Sabinianus Magnus

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Sabinianus Magnus (Greek: Σαβινιανός ό Μέγας; died 481) was a general of the Eastern Roman Empire who fought in the rebellion of Theodoric Strabo against Emperor Zeno. Much of what we know about him comes from the 5th‑century historian Marcellinus Comes, who writes about him in a favorable light. Like Marcellinus, Sabinianus was an Illyrian who served in the empire’s army and administration, and some scholars think Marcellinus’s praise reflects Illyrian bias or ties to Sabinianus and other Illyrian veterans.

In 479, in Edessa, he received the rank of Magister militum per Illyricum from patricius Adamantius, succeeding Onoulphus. At that time Zeno was dealing with the revolt of Theodoric Strabo, who did not recognize Zeno’s rule and opposed reconciliation with the Goths. Strabo hampered negotiations and attacked during attempts at peace, but Sabinianus helped push the war forward. After returning to Lychnidus, he gained the support of the Praetorian Prefect of Illyricum, Iohannes, and urged the Emperor to reject a truce with Theodoric and keep fighting.

Sabinianus’s presence in Illyricum, along with the Gothic soldier Gento, prevented Theodoric from raiding the region in 479. However, he later fell from favor at court and Zeno executed him. He was the father of a son named Sabinianus who became Consul in 505. The 6th‑century historian Marcellinus Comes called him a severe commander but a true defender of the Roman state, and wrote that Sabinianus died before he could bring fresh help to an exhausted empire.