Vitalian ( general ) Vitalian ( , ; died 520 ) was an East Roman ( Byzantine ) general . Rebelling in 513 against Emperor Anastasius I ( r . 491 – 518 ) , he won over large parts of the army and people of Thrace . Successive rapprochements with Anastasius failed , and the revolt continued until it was finally defeated in 515 . Vitalian then went into hiding until Anastasius ' s death . Being a staunch Chalcedonian , he was pardoned by the new emperor Justin I ( r . 518 – 527 ) and was engaged in the negotiations with the Pope to end the Acacian Schism . He was named consul for the year 520 , shortly before he was murdered , probably on the orders of Justin ' s nephew and heir - apparent , Justinian ( r . 527 – 565 ) . Biography . Origins and family . Vitalian was born in Zaldapa in Lower Moesia ( usually identified with modern Abrit in northeastern Bulgaria ) . He is called a " Goth " or a " Scythian " in the sources . Vitalian ' s mother , however , was a sister of Macedonius II , Patriarch of Constantinople in 496 – 511 , pointing to a mixed marriage and a probable barbarian origin for his father Patriciolus . However , the assertion that he was a " Goth " is based on a single Syriac source , and is today considered dubious . Likewise , the " Scythian " label commonly applied to him by some contemporary authors is non - conclusive , since the term " Scythian " could mean an inhabitant of Scythia Minor , or simply , in the classicizing language usual in Byzantine texts , someone from the north - eastern fringes of the Graeco - Roman world , centered on the Mediterranean ; the term had a wide - encompassing meaning , devoid of clear ethnic attributes . Furthermore , since none of the " Scythian Monks " , to whom Vitalian and members of his family seem to have been related , expressed any kinship , by blood or spiritual , with the Arian Goths who at that time ruled Italy , a Gothic origin for Vitalian is questionable . Whatever Patriciolus ' s origin , his name was Latin , while of Vitalian ' s own sons , the generals Bouzes and Coutzes had Thracian names and Venilus a Gothic name . His nephew , John , later also became a distinguished general in the wars against the Ostrogoths of Italy . According to the chroniclers ' descriptions , Vitalian was short of stature and stammered , but his personal bravery and military skills were widely acknowledged . Revolt against Anastasius . Vitalian is first mentioned in 503 , when he accompanied his father in the Anastasian War against the Persians . By 513 , he had risen to the rank of " comes " in Thrace , possibly " comes foederatorum " , " count of the " foederati " " , barbarian soldiers serving in the East Roman army . From this post , he rebelled against Emperor Anastasius I ( r . 491 – 518 ) , taking advantage of widespread resentment over the emperor ' s military , religious , and social policies . In 511 , Anastasius had changed the form of the " Trisagion " and officially adopted the Miaphysite dogma , angering the Empire ' s Chalcedonian population , already alienated by his strict financial policies . Furthermore , Anastasius had refused to supply the " annonae " ( " rations " , " provisions " ) due to the " foederati " , allowing Vitalian to quickly gain the allegiance of the regular troops stationed in the provinces of Thrace , Moesia II , and Scythia Minor from the unpopular " magister militum per Thracias " , Hypatius . Hypatius ' s subordinate commanders were either killed or joined the rebellion . At the same time , posing as a champion of Chalcedonian orthodoxy , Vitalian was able to gain the support of the local people , who flocked to join his force . According to contemporary chroniclers , he quickly assembled an army of 50 , 000 – 60 , 000 men , " both soldiers and peasants " , and marched onto Constantinople , possibly hoping that the mostly Chalcedonian inhabitants would join him . Indeed , it appears that Vitalian ' s revolt was primarily motivated by religious reasons , something suggested by his repeatedly demonstrated willingness to reach an accommodation with Anastasius . To counter Vitalian ' s propaganda , Anastasius ordered bronze cross es to be set up on the city walls inscribed with his own version of events . The emperor also reduced taxes in the provinces of Bithynia and Asia to prevent them from joining the rebellion . When Vitalian ' s forces reached the capital , they encamped at the suburb of Hebdomon and blockaded the landward side of the city . Anastasius opted for negotiations , and sent out Vitalian ' s former patron , the former consul and " magister militum praesentalis " Patricius , as ambassador . To him , Vitalian declared his aims : the restoration of Chalcedonian orthodoxy and the settling of the Thracian army ' s grievances . Patricius then invited him and his officers for negotiations in the city itself . Vitalian refused for himself , but allowed his senior officers to go on the next day . The officers were well treated by Anastasius , who gave them gifts and promised that their soldiers ' grievances would be settled . He also pledged to submit the religious dispute for resolution to the Patriarch of Rome . Upon their return to the rebel camp , these officers unanimously pressured Vitalian to accept this settlement . Faced with no alternative , only eight days after his arrival before the capital , Vitalian retreated and returned with his men to Lower Moesia . Anastasius then appointed as " magister militum per Thracias " an officer called Cyril , who proceeded to attack Vitalian ' s forces . After a few inconclusive skirmishes , Vitalian managed to bribe his entry into Odessus , Cyril ' s base , and killed him . At this point , Anastasius had Vitalian declared as a " public enemy " and sent out a new huge army – reportedly 80 , 000 men – under his nephew Hypatius , with a Hun called Alathar as the new " magister militum " of Thrace . After winning a minor initial victory , the imperial army was eventually pushed back towards Odessus ( autumn 513 ) . At Acris , on the Black Sea coast , Vitalian ' s men attacked their fortified laager in darkness and dealt them a crushing defeat : the larger part of the imperial army was killed , and both imperial commanders were taken prisoner and held for ransom . The victory consolidated Vitalian ' s position . With the spoils , he was able to lavishly reward his followers , and at the news of the imperial army ' s annihilation , the remaining cities and forts in Lower Moesia and Scythia surrendered to him . Soon after , he had another stroke of luck : at Sozopol is , his men captured an embassy sent by Anastasius to ransom his nephew , including the ransom money of 1 , 100 pounds of gold . Hypatius , however , whom Vitalian hated because he had once insulted his wife , was not released until a year later . In 514 , Vitalian marched again towards Constantinople , this time gathering , in addition to his army , a fleet of 200 vessels from the Black Sea ports , which sailed down the Bosporus menacing the city from the sea as well . Anastasius was further disquieted by riots in the city , which left many casualties , and resolved to treat again with Vitalian . Vitalian accepted , on the conditions of his nomination to the post of " magister militum per Thracias " and the receipt of ransom money and gifts worth in total 5 , 000 pounds of gold for the release of Hypatius . Anastasius also conceded the removal of the changes from the " Trisagion " , the restoration of the deposed Chalcedonian bishops , and the convocation of a general church council at Constantinople on 1 July 515 . In the event , the council never materialized , since Pope Hormisdas and Anastasius continued to be at loggerheads over the Acacian Schism . Neither were the deposed bishops returned to their sees . Seeing Anastasius failing to honour his promises , in late 515 Vitalian mobilized his army and marched again towards Constantinople . Vitalian ' s army captured the suburb of Sycae ( modern Galata ) across the Golden Horn from the city and encamped there . The two " magistri militum praesentalis " , Patricius and John , were unwilling to engage their old friend Vitalian , thus Anastasius gave command of his forces to the former praetorian prefect of the East , Marinus , a trusted and influential aide . Despite his lack of military experience , Marinus defeated the rebel fleet in a battle at the entrance of the Golden Horn ; according to the report of John Malalas , this was achieved through the use of a sulfur - based chemical substance invented by the philosopher Proclus of Athens , similar to the later Greek fire . Marinus then landed with his men on the shore of Sycae and defeated the rebels he found there . Disheartened by the losses suffered , Vitalian and his army fled north under cover of night . As a sign of his victory , Anastasius led a procession to the village of Sosthenion , where Vitalian had established his headquarters , and attended a service of thanks at the famed local church dedicated to the Archangel Michael . Later life . Once back in northern Thrace , Vitalian went into hiding , while many of his erstwhile aides were captured and executed . Nothing is known of him for the next three years , although a short remark by a chronicler seems to indicate that he resurfaced and led another armed rebellion during the last months of Anastasius ' s life . When Anastasius died in July 518 , he was succeeded by Justin I , the " comes excubitorum " ( commander of the imperial bodyguard ) . The new emperor quickly moved to strengthen his rule , dismissing a number of potential rivals or enemies . At the same time , he called upon Vitalian to come to Constantinople . Upon his arrival , Vitalian was made " magister militum in praesenti " , named honorary consul , and soon after raised to the rank of " patricius " . As a well - known champion of Chalcedonian orthodoxy , Vitalian was to play a role in the new regime ' s reaffirmation of the Chalcedonian doctrines and reconciliation with Rome . He played an active role in the negotiations with the Pope , and in 519 , he was one of the prominent men who escorted a papal delegation into the capital . Finally in 520 , Vitalian was appointed consul for the year , sharing the office with Rusticius . Nevertheless , the old rebel continued to pose a potential challenge to Justin , and more importantly to his nephew and heir - apparent , Justinian ( r . 527 – 565 ) . Thus , in July of the same year he was murdered inside the Great Palace along with his secretary Paulus and his " domesticus " ( aide ) Celerianus . According to John of Nikiou , he was killed because he was plotting against Justin ; most chroniclers , however , put the responsibility for the crime on Justinian ' s desire to rid himself of a potential rival for his uncle ' s succession .