Germanus (; died 604) was a
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
general who served under Emperor
Phocas
Phocas (; ; 5475 October 610) was Eastern Roman emperor from 602 to 610. Initially a middle-ranking officer in the East Roman army, Roman army, Phocas rose to prominence as a spokesman for dissatisfied soldiers in their disputes with the cour ...
(r. 602–610) in the early stages of the
Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628.
Biography
Germanus is possibly the same as the ''
dux'' of Phoenice, who was chosen by the army as its leader during the mutiny at Monocarton in
Easter
Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...
588, in place of
Priscus. Although Germanus restored discipline and led the army to a
victory
The term victory (from ) originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitutes a strategic vi ...
against the Persians, he was tried and found guilty by a subsequent tribunal. Sentenced to death, he was quickly pardoned and received rewards from Emperor
Maurice (r. 582–602).
In 602, shortly before the outbreak of the revolt against Emperor Maurice that brought Phocas to power, Germanus was placed in command of the strategically important fortress of
Dara in
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...
. In early 603, he received Lilius, the envoy Phocas had sent to announce his accession to the Persian shah
Khosrau II
Khosrow II (spelled Chosroes II in classical sources; and ''Khosrau''), commonly known as Khosrow Parviz (New Persian: , "Khosrow the Victorious"), is considered to be the last great Sasanian King of Kings (Shahanshah) of Iran, ruling from 590 ...
(r. 590–628). At this time, Germanus was reportedly attacked and wounded by one of his soldiers, but soon recovered.
[.]
In late 603,
Narses, the Byzantine commander-in-chief of the eastern armies, rebelled against Phocas. He failed to secure the support of most of the army, and Germanus was ordered to besiege him at his base at
Edessa. Narses, however, had sought and obtained the support of Khosrau II, who was eager to regain lost territory and avenge the murder of Emperor Maurice, who had helped him regain his throne in 591.
Khosrau therefore sent a Persian army into Mesopotamia. Germanus met the Persians in battle near the city of
Constantina, but was defeated and heavily wounded, dying a few days after in Constantina.
[.]
References
Sources
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Germanus (''magister militum'' under Phocas)
6th-century births
604 deaths
6th-century Byzantine generals
7th-century Byzantine generals
Generals of Maurice
Generals of Phocas
Magistri militum
People of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628