Marinus (praetorian prefect)

Marinus was one of the most trusted and senior aides of the Byzantine emperor Anastasius I (r. 491–518). He served twice as praetorian prefect of the East, supervised some of Anastasius's tax reforms, supported the Emperor's pro-Monophysite policies and led the Byzantine navy in a crucial battle that ended for good the rebellion of general Vitalian in Thrace. He survived into the regime of Justin I (r. 518–527), when he held his second tenure as praetorian prefect, but was soon sidelined from power.

Marinus was a native of Apamea in Syria, and, like most Syrians, a Monophysite. Nothing is known of his early life, but in 498 he was appointed by Anastasius as the senior financial official (tractator, and later chartularius) of the fiscal department of the praetorian prefecture of the East responsible for the Diocese of Oriens, which encompassed his native Syria. His predecessor in the post, John the Paphlagonian, went on to supervise Anastasius's reform of Byzantine coinage. From this position, Marinus became one of the Emperor's chief financial advisers, especially on matters of taxation; he was also responsible for the institution of the vindices, officials tasked with collecting the annona tax, which hitherto had been the responsibility of the provincial city councils. The details of the reform are obscure, and contemporary opinion on its effects is divided: John Lydus, whose stance is hostile to Marinus, blames it for impoverishing the provinces, while a panegyric by Priscian claims that it was a great relief to the farmers. Although the new system seems to have been successful in increasing state revenue, it was extensively modified and ultimately mostly abandoned in subsequent reigns.

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