Arsaces (conspirator)

Arsaces was a Byzantine conspirator against Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565). He was the instigator of Artabanes's conspiracy. The main source about him is Procopius.

Arsaces was an Armenian and a descendant of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia. He was also a kinsman of the general Artabanes, though the exact relation is not recorded.

At some point, Arsaces established correspondence with Khosrau I (r. 531-579), ruler of the Sassanid Empire. He was caught by imperial authorities and accused of treason. He was convicted, but Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) reserved for him a relatively mild punishment. Arsaces was sentenced to a public flagellation, while paraded through the streets of Constantinople on the back of a camel. The punishment was aimed to leave him physically unharmed but humiliated. Arsaces was not grateful to Emperor Justinian, holding a grudge. Procopius does not mention the date or context of the events. Modern historians suggest it was part of the early phases of the Lazic War (541–562).

Arsaces became the instigator of a conspiracy against the Byzantine emperor in 548. The plot formed shortly following the death of Theodora on June 28, 548. He first approached his kinsman Artabanes, who had his own reasons to be dissatisfied with Emperor Justinian. He previously had the ambition to marry Praejecta, niece of the Byzantine emperor. However, Theodora had thwarted this plan and Praejecta had married another man. Arsaces was able to turn this dissatisfaction to hatred. Chanaranges, "a young and frivolous Armenian" was also recruited. His motivations are not recorded. The name probably derives from Kanarang, a military title of the Sassanid Empire. He should probably not be confused with his contemporary, the Chanaranges who took part in the Gothic War (535–554).

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