Aspar and Apollonius–religion and politics in choosing the eastern consul for 460 CE

Abstract This article takes a fresh look at the identification of the East Roman consul for 460 CE. Although recent scholarship has favored a military candidate over a civil candidate of the same name, the author suggests that there is a better argument for the civil candidate based on an examination of East Roman political and religious issues in the 440 s and 450 s. If so, the choice may also shed new light on Aspar’s political strategy in the late 450 s and early resistance to the advancement of his son, Patricius.