ANASTASIUS I., Emperor of Constantinople, was born at Dyrrhachium not later than 430 a.d. At the time of the death of Zeno (491), Anastasius, though only one of the guards (silentiarii) in the palace, held a very high character, and was raised to the throne of the Roman empire of the East, mainly through the influence of Ariadne, Zeno’s widow, whom he married shortly after his accession. His reign, though afterwards disturbed by foreign and intestine wars and religious distractions, commenced auspiciously. He gained the popular favour by a judicious remission of taxation, and displayed great vigour and energy in administering the affairs of the empire. The principal wars in which Anastasius was engaged were those known as the Isaurian and the Persian. The former (492-8) was stirred up by the supporters of Longinus, the brother of Zeno, and resulted in Anastasius’s favour; in the latter (502-5) he was signally defeated, but the provinces the Persians had won from him were restored on payment of a ransom. He also suffered defeat at the hands of the Goths of Italy, to check whose incursions he built the “Anastasian wall,” extending from the Propontis to the Euxine. For the support he gave to the Eutychians, Anastasius was anathematised by Pope Symmachus. The latter years of his reign were troubled by revolts in Constantinople, excited by his avarice and by his reputed heretical tendencies. He died in 518.

ANASTASIUS IL, Emperor, whose original name was Artemius, was raised to the throne of Constantinople by the voice of the senate and people in 713 a.d., on the deposition of Philippicus, whom he had served in the capacity of secretary. His territories, being threatened both by sea and land, he sent an army under Leo the Isaurian, afterwards emperor, to defend Syria; adopted wise and resolute measures for the defence of his capital; and equipped and despatched a formidable naval force, with orders not only to resist the approach of the enemy, but to destroy their naval stores. The fleet mutinied'.· at Rhodes, and proclaimed Theodosius, a person of low extraction, emperor. After a six months’ reign, Constantinople was taken by Theodosius; and Anastasius, who had fled to Nicaea, was compelled to submit to the new emperor, and, retiring to Thessalonica, became a monk (716). In 721 he headed a revolt against Leo, who had succeeded Theodosius, and receiving a considerable amount of support, laid siege to Constantinople; but the enterprise failed, and Anastasius falling into Leo’s hands, was put to death by his orders.