Theodore Trithyrius

Theodore Trithyrius (Greek: Θεόδωρος Τριθύριος; died 636), commonly known by his title as Theodore the Sacellarius, was a Byzantine treasurer of the state (sacellarius) and a military commander during the last years of the reign of Byzantine emperor Heraclius.

Life

Based in Antioch during the 7th century, Trithyrius was a Greek Christian treasurer working for the Byzantine authority of Emperor Heraclius and extremely loyal to the emperor himself. He enjoyed supremacy under his title of sacellarius usually appointed to the state treasurer.

In 634, the emperor sent his brother Theodore to fighting the invading armies of Muslims in Ajnadayn where he was decisively defeated. On his retreat, Theodore blamed his brother's incestuous marriage to their niece Martina for the defeat of the Byzantine empire and delved into an argument with him. Heraclius stripped him of his command and sent him to Constantinople. With Theodore gone, Heraclius appointed Trithyrius to take lead as the commander of his brother's army. Historians cite that Heraclius wanted to give the reigns to Theodore not because he was loyal but because he shared his brother's name and that the force would not feel much about the replacement of his brother.