CHAPTER XXIV

DEATH OF ARMATUS

ZENO, at the instigation of Illus, puts to death Armatus, a kinsman of the empress Verina. When Armatus had been sent against him by Basiliscus, Zeno had succeeded, by bribes, in converting him from a foe into an ally, and had bestowed on his son Basiliscus the rank of Caesar at Nicæa: but on his return to Constantinople, he procures the assassination of Armatus, and makes his son a priest instead of Cæsar. The latter was afterwards raised to the episcopal dignity.