Eutychios

   1) Patriarch of Constantinople (qq.v.) from 552-565, and again from 577-582. Justinian I (q.v.) hoped that Eutychios, who had supported Justinian I's Three Chapters (q.v.), would be as loyal as the previous patriarch Menas (q.v.). His immediate task was to gain a favorable outcome for Justinian I at the Fifth Ecumenical Council (q.v.) at Constantinople in 553, which he did, despite a condemnation (later reversed) from Pope Vigilius (q.v.). However, he could not agree with Justinian I's support of the doctrine of Aphthartodocetism (q.v.), and so the emperor deposed him, exiling him to a monastery at Amasea (q.v.). He was subsequently restored as patriarch during the reign of Justinian I's successor, Justin II (q.v.).

   2) Last exarch of Ravenna (q.v.). Sent to Italy (q.v.) by Leo III (q.v.) around 728, he tried unsuccessfully to murder Pope Gregory II (q.v.), who had resisted Leo III's Iconoclasm (q.v.). Left to organize the defense of the exarchate (q.v.) on his own, he ended up seeking Gregory II's help, as well as the help of his papal successors Gregory III and Zacharias (qq.v.), all of whom negotiated with the Lombards (q.v.) on Eutychios's behalf. However, in 751 the Lombards captured Ravenna, putting an end to Byzantine authority north of Rome (q.v.).