User:Iazyges/Calocaerus

Calocaerus (–334 AD) was a Roman usurper against Emperor Constantine I, who, in 334 AD, staged a short lived revolt in Cyprus. His revolt was quickly put down, and he was executed alongside with his commanders, by being burned alive.

History
Before the revolt, Calocaerus had served as the Magister pecoris camelorum ("Master of the Flock and Camels") in Cyprus. He had been assigned to this position by Emperor Constantine I in 330 AD. In 333 AD, Dalmatius, the half-brother of Emperor Constantine I, was made Caesar of the Roman Empire. During the time period of the revolt, imperial power and legitimacy was based almost entirely upon military power. In order to become and remain emperor, a usurper needed a large and loyal army. Due to this of this, there were a large number of ephemeral revolts, which were either rapidly put down by the incumbent emperor, or else had their usurper killed by his own troops.

Calocaerus revolted in Cyprus in 334 AD, proclaiming himself emperor. He was swiftly defeated by Dalmatius. After being defeated, he was taken to Tarsus in Cilicia, and burned alive, along with his commanders. It is likely that Calocaerus' low status (that of a Magister pecoris camelorum), had an influence in the low amount of support he received, leading to his quick demise. Dalmatius gathered evidence that a bastard son of Licinius, who had been emperor before Constantine I, was involved. This son had been legitimized by edict, and survived the downfall of his father, and still held a high, although unrecorded, rank in the Roman Empire. Dalmatius used this evidence to either execute or enslave the bastard son.

Ancient sources

 * Theophanes 43B.
 * Jerome Chron. 334.