Callinicus ( grc-gre, Καλλίνικος, Kallínikos) was the

exarch of Ravenna The Exarchate of Ravenna ( la, Exarchatus Ravennatis; el, Εξαρχάτο της Ραβέννας) or of Italy was a lordship of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) in Italy, from 584 to 751, when the last exarch was put to death by the ...

from 597 until 602 or 603. He is called Gallicinus, or ''Gallicini patricii'', by the Lombard historian Paul the Deacon
Latin text
English ''patrician Gallicinus''). The first few years of his administration were marked by relatively good fortune. In 598 an armistice between the Byzantines and the Lombards had been concluded in which the Lombards were acknowledged as sovereign rulers of the lands in their possession, and which was observed by both parties over the following years. However around 601, Callinicus took advantage of a rebellion by Dukes Gaidoald of Trent and

Gisulf II of Friuli Gisulf II (''Gisulfo II di Friuli''; abt. 545 – 611) was the Duke of Friuli from around 591 to his death. He was the son and successor of Gisulf I. Gisulf and Gaidoald of Trent were at odds with King Agilulf until they made peace in 602 or 603 ...

to break the peace by kidnapping the Lombard king

Agilulf Agilulf ( 555 – April 616), called ''the Thuringian'' and nicknamed ''Ago'', was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death. A relative of his predecessor Authari, Agilulf was of Thuringian origin and belonged to the ...

's daughter and her husband, Duke Godescalc of

Parma Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto (ham), cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 inhabitants, Parma is the second mos ...

.Paul the Deacon ''History'', 4.20 (translated by Foulke, p. 165) records the kidnapping; Jeffrey Richards, ''The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages'' (London:Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1979), p. 174, explains Callinicus' motivation. In response, Agilulf invaded the Exarchate, destroying

Padua Padua ( ; it, Padova ; vec, Pàdova) is a city and ''comune'' in Veneto, northern Italy. Padua is on the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice. It is the capital of the province of Padua. It is also the economic and communications hub of t ...

, pillaging

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian and Slovene: ; ist, Eîstria; Istro-Romanian, Italian and Venetian: ; formerly in Latin and in Ancient Greek) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic betwee ...

, then defeating Callinicus outside the walls of Ravenna.Richards, ''Popes and the Papacy'', p. 174 Shortly afterwards Callinicus was replaced by Smaragdus; Richards states Callinicus was recalled.

References

6th-century exarchs of Ravenna 7th-century exarchs of Ravenna 600s deaths Year of birth unknown {{Byzantine-bio-stub