Arsaber 1

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexM
FloruitE IX
Dates808 (taq) / 808 (tpq)
PmbZ No.600
EthnicityArmenian
LocationsBithynia (exileplace);
Constantinople (residence);
Bithynia (residence);
Constantinople;
Bithynia
OccupationMonk
TitlesPatrikios (dignity);
Kuaistor (office)
Textual SourcesGenesii, Josephi, Regum Libri Quattuor, eds. A. Lesmüller-Werner and I. Thurn, CFHB 14 (Berlin, 1978) (history);
Theodorus Studita, Epistulae, ed. G. Fatouros, CFHB 31.1-2 (Berlin/New York, 1992) (letters);
Theophanes Confessor, Chronographia, ed. C. de Boor, 2 vols. (Leipzig, 1883-85, repr. Hildesheim/NewYork, 1980); tr. and comm. C. Mango and R. Scott, The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, Oxford 1997 (chronicle);
Theophanes Continuatus, ed. I. Bekker (Bonn, 1838) (history)

Arsaber 1's name is Armenian (Arsavir); cf. Winkelmann, Quellenstudien, pp. 205-206 with 253.

Arsaber 1 was a patrikios and kuaistor; described as pious and learned (Ἀρσαβήρ, τὸν κυαίστωρα καὶ πατρίκιον, ἄνδρα εὐσεβῆ καὶ λογιώτατον), in February 808 Arsaber 1 was chosen by conspirators to replace the emperor Nikephoros I (Nikephoros 8); the plot was discovered by the emperor and Arsaber 1 was beaten, tonsured as a monk and sent into exile in Bithynia: Theoph. AM 6300 (his supporters included not only lay persons of high rank but also bishops and monks and high officials of the Church at Constantinople).

Arsaber 1 is to be identified with Arsaber the father of Theodosia 1 (wife of the emperor Leo V (Leo 15)): Theoph. Cont. I 21 (p. 35), Genesius I 18 (he was a patrikios and kuaistor - τοῦ Ἀρσαβὴρ πατρικίου καὶ κοιαίστωρος). Cf. Treadgold, The Byzantine Revival, p. 203 with note 271.

Father of the empress Theodosia 1, Arsaber 1 is mentioned in a letter from Theodoros 15 (Theodore the Stoudite) written to Theodosia 1 and her son Basilios 54 between 821 and April 824; Arsaber 1 was a pious man (Theodosia 1 was πατρόθεν ἐξ εὐσεβοῦς ρίζης), virtuous and beloved of God (Θεῷ τε πεφιλημένος καὶ πάσῃ καλοκαγαθίᾳ κατηγλαϊσμένος): Theod. Stud., Ep. 538.

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