Lilingis, the Bastard Half-Brother of Illus

Abstract

The paper is devoted to Lilingis – one of the leaders in the Isaurian uprising against emperor Anastasius I. He was Illus’ half-brother. Illus was an Isaurian who, aside from Zeno, played the most important role in the life of the Byzantine state in the 470s and 480s. It is possible that from 484, Lilingis held the position of the Isaurian comes and was so successful at it that he probably retained it until the end of Zeno’s reign and gained authority among his tribesmen, which resulted in his participation as one of the leaders in the Isaurian uprising. Lilingis was co-commander in the first rebel clash with the emperor’s forces at Kotyaeum (492). He met his death in the battle.