or the Elder, Roman emperor of the East, born A.D. 450, was originally a swineherd. The soldiers of the Praetorian band forced him to accept the imperial dignity on the death of Anastasius in 518. He is noted in ecclesiastical history for his interference in behalf of the orthodox bishops who had been banished by the Arians, but whom he recalled, and for several edicts which he published against the Arians. Hearing of the destruction of Antioch by an earthquake, he laid aside the imperial robe, clothed himself in sackcloth, and passed several days in fasting and prayer to avoid divine judgment. He rebuilt that city and other places which were destroyed by the same calamity. He died in 527. See Smith, Dict. of Gr. and Rom. Biog. 2, 677 sq.