Marcian (usurper)

He was a son-in-law of Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I and his queen Verina. He aided Verina in the clash against another son-in-law, Emperor Zeno, but was defeated by Illus. Marcian had married Leontia, daughter of the late Emperor Leo by Verina, and sister of Ariadne, Zeno's wife.

His revolt took place at Constantinople, where he defeated the troops of Zeno and besieged him in the palace. Marcian's forces were corrupted by Illus; and Marcian himself, with his brothers Procopius and Romulus, was taken. The brothers escaped, but Marcian was sent, either to Tarsus in Cilicia, and made a priest in the church there, or to the foot of Papurius, or Papyrius, a stronghold in Isauria, then used as a state prison.

References

• »Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, v. 1, page 569-570