Armeńscy współpracownicy Justyniana Wielkiego. Część 2. Wielka kariera eunucha Narsesa

Abstract

Narses was born ca. 480 in Persian Armen1a but from his early adolescence he was staying at the imperial court. Sources describe him already as a mature man. whom the emperor trusted. He began his career as a civilian official and held various posts (sacellarius, cubicularius, praepositus sacri cubiculq. He was promoted to thc rank of Ulustris in 537 or 538. In 532 hc played a part in saving Justinian's power during the Nike's mutiny. In 535 he intervcned in Alexandria shaken at that time by religious arguments and succeeded in making Theodosius patriarch. Narses' military carcer began very late. when he was 58 and was sent to Italy by the emperor in ordcr to support Belisarius (538). Due to a conflict between the commanderin- chief and Narses. the emperor callcd the latter back to Constantinople soon. Upon the return to Byzantium Narses remained one of Justinian's most trusted collaborators. One of his tasks was the investigation of the plot Belisarius and John of Cappadokia had been acused of. He intervened when unrest burst out at Constantinople. Sent to the Heruls he managed to make them take part in the struggle against the Goths and he participated in the struggle against the Slavs who had invaded Thrace (545). On the turn of 550 and 551, when he was 75, Narses was appointed strategos- -autokrator and ordered to defeatTotila,king ofOstrogoths.With considerablestrength in men and fmancial resouces and with the experienced advisor, John, he managed to annihilate the state of Ostrogoths in Italy. He was honored for his feats with the title of patrician and became administrator of the regained province. His post was confirmed by the pragmatic sanction of 554. Narses then organized administrative reforms of Italy and reconstruction from war destruction. He also helped install Pelagius on the papal throne. He became known as a severe administrator and was accused of getting huge money from his post. At the same time howeverhe spent big sums on church foundations. Removed from his post by Justin II in 567 or 568, he died in Italy, probably in Romebetween 568 and 574. A coincidence of the removal from his post with the Lombard invasion in Italy caused accuseation of his collaboration with the latter. The accusations are not supported by any evidence though. MostByzantinehistorians speaks ofNarseswith greatest esteem. His contemporary tell about his human attitude, lack of cruelty, defending the victims, modesty, piety (he syrnphatized with monophysites) and keeping promises. He was able to operate in extremely difficult conditions, showing both military and organizational talents and did not belong to the individuals convincedof his own infallibility.In his actions he could make use of both conventional and non-conventional warfare and was popular among soldiers. Narses' ethnicity did not have any influence on his career. He was brought up at Constantinople and nothing points out any ties with the country of his origin. He is almost certain not to have taken any actions in favor of Persian Armenia. Even if he had wanted to, he would not have had any chance to do that, as he was sent to other, distant provinces of the empire. It should be noted that he did not differ much from his compatriots, serving in the Byzantine army, although on the other hand, he could count on the loyaltyof otherArmeniansin the imperialservice.