Amantius (praepositus)

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Amantius was a eunuch who served as the head chamberlain (praepositus sacri cubiculi) to Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I and was a powerful, Miaphysite figure at his court. After Anastasius died in 518, Amantius, unable to claim the throne himself, supported Theocritus as a rival candidate. He even bribed the comes excubitorum, Justin, to back Theocritus, but Justin used the money to win support for himself. When Justin became emperor on July 10, 518, Amantius stirred up trouble and, with the non-Chalcedonian official Andreas, plotted to replace Justin with Theocritus. Hated by pro-Chalcedonian crowds, he was denounced in Hagia Sophia on July 16 and executed on July 20 along with Andreas. Amantius had built a church for Saint Thomas in Constantinople, and the area later took the name ta Amantou after him. In the Oriental Orthodox Church, Amantius and Andreas are remembered as martyrs.