Flavius ​​Clearch

Flavius ​​Clearch came from a well-to-do family living in the region of Thesprotia , which was located in the province of Old Epirus. ^[1] His father held many posts and, according to the rhetorician Libania , died in poverty ^[2] . In childhood, Clearch and his younger brother were trained by the philosopher and sophist Nikokl ^[3] . After moving to Constantinople , in 356, or perhaps in the year 357, he visited Antioch , and for some time (up to 363) was among the associates of the philosopher Themistius ^[4] .

From 359, Clearch occupied a number of unknown positions in Constantinople, and in 360 he was promoted to a higher rank. It is possible that he was appointed as an assessor during this period ^[4] . From one letter of Libania, the authors of Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire conclude that, perhaps, Clearh ruled the province of Europe for some time ^[4] . Increased political influence of Clearch was marked by his inclusion in the Senate embassy sent to Antioch to welcome the new Emperor Jovian after the latter ascended the throne ^{[4] [5]} .

From 363 to 366, Clearch served as a vicar of the Asia diocese ^[4] . In the year 364, he intervened in the legal proceedings to ensure an acquittal of Alexander Heliopolis, the former governor of Syria ^[6] . In 365, he was asked to intervene in the incident in Perge concerning Metrophan, the governor of Pamphylia ^[7] . During the uprising of Procopius, Clearch remained loyal to the emperor Valens and risked his life by supporting the legitimate sovereign ^[4] . He criticized the prefect of the praetorium of the East Saturnia Sekund Sallust , accusing him of laziness and the inability to put out the flames of rebellion in time ^[4] .

Apparently, as a reward for loyalty, Valent appointed Clearch as proconsul of Asia ^[8] . He held this post from 366 to 367, during which he managed to achieve the removal of Sallust from his post and ensure the appointment of Avxonius in his place ^[9] . Clearch also defended philosopher Maximus of Ephesus , who was found guilty of illegal enrichment, releasing him from custody and returning his property to him ^[10] . In the years 372-373, Clearch was the prefect of Constantinople . He conducted the discovery of the aqueduct of Valens and Nympheum on the Theodosius forum ^[4] . The second time, Prearch of Constantinople, Clearch was from 382 to 384 years ^[1] . In 384, he served as ordinary consul, along with Flavius ​​Richomer ^[1] . Then, as it is possible to draw a conclusion from the letters of Libania, its influence began to decline, and all references to it disappear from sources ^[9] .

Clearch was a pagan ^[11] . He was in correspondence with the sophist Libaniy . His son may have been the prefect of Praetorium Illyric Clearch ^[12] .

Sources

1. Libanius. Letters

Literature

1. Jones AHM Clearchus 1 // Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire / AHM Jones , JR Martindale, J. Morris. - Cambridge University Press , 1971. - Vol. I: AD 260-395. - P. 211-212. - ISBN 0-521-07233-6 [2001 reprint].
2. Bagnall RS, Cameron A., Schwarts SR, Worp KA Consuls of the Later Roman Empire. - Atlanta, Georgia, 1987.
3. Lenski, Noel Emmanuel. Failure of the Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century AD. - University of California Press, 2002.
4. Potter, David Stone. The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180-395. - Routledge, 2004.