Leontius (usurper)

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Leontius (died 488) was a Byzantine general and claimant to the Byzantine throne who led a rebellion against emperor Zeno in 484.

A general from Isauria, Leontius was proclaimed emperor by empress dowager Verina in 484, at the instigation of a general, Illus. Since Illus and Leontius were both Chalcedonians, they gained the support of Callandion, Patriarch of Antioch, but otherwise had little support. They were defeated by Zeno's army, a combined Byzantine-Ostrogoth force under the command of John the Scythian. Verina was killed, and Leontius escaped with Illus to a fort in Isauria, where they held out until they were captured and executed in 488.

[edit] References

• Warren T. Treadgold (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press, pp. 161–164. ISBN 0804726302.