СКРИБОН КОМЕНТІОЛ ЯК ПОСОЛ ДО АВАРІВ У 583 р.

Abstract

A feature of the career development of the military nobility of the Eastern Roman Empire in the last third of the sixth century was participation in diplomatic missions. Acting as envoys of the Justinian emperors, Roman generals and soldiers represented the interests of Constantinople before the barbarian rulers. The peculiar turnover of personnel was facilitated by the peculiarities of Roman diplomacy aimed at political neutralisation of neighbours, as well as the personal desire of autocrats to test their protégés in the foreign policy arena. This was compounded by the lack of experienced diplomats and generals in the Roman Empire. As a result, a number of soldiers and generals of the Empire who enjoyed the personal trust of emperors often acted as envoys in negotiations with the rulers of barbarian political units. The scribon Comentiolus, who was involved in the Roman embassy sent in 583 to the Avar Khagan Bayan I (562–602), was no exception to this context. Having been the personal bodyguard of Emperor Maurice (582–602) at the beginning of his reign, Comentiolus later held the positions of dux of Mesia, military master of the East, and stratigos of Thrace. Comentiolus career growth was mainly due to his talent as a commander. Nevertheless, at the beginning of his service to Maurice, scribo was sent by Mauritius as an ambassador to the headquarters of the Avar Khan to end the war with Constantinople that began in 582. Despite the formal heading of the mission to Anchialus by Senator Elpidius, scribo actually defended the interests of the Empire. Bayan’s provocations during the negotiations with the Romans provoked Commentius to make a patriotic speech in which he accused the Avars of disrespecting Constantinople. Ultimately, Comentiolus’ actions as ambassador were the direct cause of the failure of the diplomatic mission and the continuation of the war.