User:Iazyges/Martinos

Martinos was briefly co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire from September/October 461–September/October 461. Martinos was the son of Emperor Heraclius and Empress Martina. He was made Nobilissimus under Heraclius, and was allegedly involved in the first banishment of Pyrrhus of Constantinople to the Exarchate of Africa. After the death of Heraclius, the Byzantine Empire was left to two of Martinos' brothers, Constantine III and Heraklonas. Heraklonas was left the sole emperor, under the regency of Martina, after Constantine died of tuberculosis, although .partisans of Constantine alleged that Martina had Constantine poisoned. One such partisan, Valentinus, led troops to Chalcedon to force Martina to make Constans II, the son of Constantine, co-emperor. In late September/October 641, Martina raised Martinos to co-emperor, as well as David-Tiberius and Constans. Valentinus seized Constantinople regardless, and deposed Martina and Heraklonas, and emasculated Martinos before exiling him to Rhodes.

History
Martinos was born to Byzantine Emperor Heraclius and Empress Martina at an unknown date. Martinos was declared a Nobilissimus under Heraclius, while the elder brother David-Tiberius was made Caesar. Allegedly, Martinos was involved in the first banishment of Pyrrhus of Constantinople to the Exarchate of Africa.

After Heraclius died on 111 February 641, he declared that Constantine III and Heraklonas would co-rule the empire under the regency of Martina. The Byzantine Senate accepted Constantine III and Heraklonas as co-emperors, but rejected Martina as empress-regent. On April 20/24 or May 26 641, died of an advanced case of tuberculosis, although some supporters of Constantine alleged that Martina had him poisoned, leaving Heraklonas as the sole ruler. under the regency of Martina. In August 461, Valentinus, a general who had been loyal to Constantine before his death, led his troops to Chalcedon to force Martina to elevate Constans II to co-emperor. A mob rose up in the city, demanding that Pyrrhus crown Constans II as emperor, and then abdicate, to be replaced by his steward Paul II. Martina, now in a truly desperate situation, offered the military further donatives, recalled Philagrius from Africa, and offered Valentinus the title of Count of the Excubitors.

In late September/October, Martina elevated Constans to co-emperor, but also raised Martinos and David-Tiberius but also raised Heraklonas' brothers, Martinos and David-Tiberius to co-emperors alongside them. Despite these offers, Valentinus entered the city in September/October, deposed Heraklonas and Martina, and then elevated Constans to emperor. Valentinus had both Martinos and David-Tiberois emasculated and then banished to Rhodes, where they stayed until their deaths.