ANASTASIUS I. surnamed DICORCS, Emperor of Constantinople, succeeded Zeno I. in 491. Zeno had left no issue ; and the principal personages of his court con tended about the succession. Anastasius, though at that time high in office, was of low extraction ; but by the influence of Ariadne, Zeno's widow, (whose favourite he had been during the life even. of the late emperor, and whose husband he became a few days after his death,) he was the successful competitor. He found the em pire in a state of peace, and seemed desirous to pre serve it from the evils of war. He began his reign very auspiciously, and adopted many beneficial measures. He relieved his subjects from some heavy public burdens; prohibited several barbarous amusements ; abolished the practice of selling public offices ; and filled them with persons of worth and talents. He was soon involved, however, in various troubles, excited partly by Lon ginus, the late emperor's brother, and partly by the vio lence of theological disputes. In order to preserve peace, he prohibited the keen agitation of these sub jects, especially of the Eutychian heresy, to which he himself was supposed to be inclined. He deposed Euphemius, patriarch of Constantinople, who had dis regarded this prohibition, and appointed Macedonius in his place. He soon began, however, to take a principal shale in these disputes himself, and openly favoured heretical sentiments. He seemed to have completely changed his nature ; and became both a tyrannical and persecuting prince. He was excommunicated by Pope Symmachus on these accounts ; but this only increased his rage against the orthodox clergy. He banished Macedonius, who had always been a steady, but tem perate opponent to his ecclesiastical proceedings ; and put to. death several persons of distinction, who adhered to the sentiments of that patriarch. Pope Normisda sent legates to remonstrate with him on these proceedings, but he treated them with very little respect, and re turned to his holiness the following reply, Pies zmp•rare volumus, nobis imprruri Ilis (10 011S were frequently attacked by his enemies, and by his rebellious governors; but he always endeavoured rather to pur chase peace by money, than to secure it by active measures. Ile was particularly distressed by Vita
lianus, the Scythian, who even laid siege to Constan tinople ; but he at length procured his departure by sum of money. It is said, that, in this war he was as sisted in a remarkable manner by Proclus, an eminent mathematician, to whom he had shewn great favour ; who, like another Archimedes, destroyed the navy of Vitalianus by immense burning glasses. la the midst of all these external attacks, the city of Constantinople was continually disturbed by internal commotions, ex cited by the contending theological parties ; and these were greatly increased by the interference of nas tasius. Ile insisted upon the addition of a very ob jectionable clause to the doxology, which was generally used in divine service.* This was considered as flivour ing the heretical opinions, which then prevailed upon the subject of the trinity ; and a keen resistance was made to its adoption. The commotions, on this ac count, rose to so great a height, that the emperor found it necessary to repair to the circus without his crown, and in the habit of a suppliant, where he succeeded in appeasing the multitude by his humble appearance and conciliating address. But, notwithstanding these tumults in his capital, and other calamities throughout his domi nions, he is said to have proceeded to still greater op pressions. He discovered, that a conspiracy had been formed against him, and put to death several of his household, on suspicion of their having been concerned in the plot. It is related, by the Catholic writers, that he was warned by a vision of his wickedness ; and that various oracles predicted, that he should perish by fire. To avoid this threatened evil, he lived in a round tower, built entirely of stone, under the direction of Proclus, the mathematician ; but, in the midst of this building, be was struck with lightning during a thunder storm ; and thus died in the 88th year of his age, after a reign of 27 years and some months, and in the vear of our Lord 518. Esprinchard. Hist. vol. i. p. 690. Godeau. Hist. rglo•c. c. iii. I. 3. Tursillin. Epit. 1. 6. c. ii. Baronius. Un, Hist. vol. xvi. p. 603, Rc. (q)