Anatolius (Osroene)

Anatolius (Greek: Ανατόλιος, died c. 579/580) was a Byzantine official, active in the reign of Tiberius II Constantine (r. 574–582). He was a topoteretes (deputy) of the praetorian prefecture of the East and praeses (provincial governor) of Osroene. He was accused of being a crypto-pagan and consequently executed.

Primary sources about him include Evagrius Scholasticus, and John of Ephesus. There are mentions of him in the works of Michael the Syrian and Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos.

Anatolius was apparently a man of humble origins. He eventually rose to high office, gaining in political significance.Evagrius Scholasticus reports: "Anatolius, who was originally one of the vulgar and an artisan, but had subsequently, by some means or other, obtained admission into public offices and other posts of importance." He lived for some time in Antioch, which was renamed at the time Theopolis ("City of God"). He conducted his business in the city and was personally acquainted with Patriarch Gregory of Antioch (term 571–593). Evagrius remarks "In this city he was pursuing his engagements, from which resulted an intimacy with Gregory, president of that Church, and frequent visits to him, partly for the purpose of conversing on matters of business, and partly with a view to obtain greater influence on the ground of his intercourse with the prelate."

By 579, Anatolius had risen to his highest post. John of Ephesus describes Anatolius as "archon and deputy praetorian prefect" (Greek: ἄρχων καὶ ὰντιὐπαρχος) at Edessa. This would make him a topoteretes (deputy) of the Praetorian prefecture of the East and praeses (provincial governor) of Osroene, of which Edessa was the capital. One of the Novellae Constitutiones ("New Constitutions") mentions the topoteretes of Osroene and Mesopotamia. This was the post Anatolius held and the reference might be to Anatolius himself.

...
Wikipedia