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Ablabius () was a Byzantine would-be assassin, known for a failed attempt to kill Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) in 562. The main sources about him are John Malalas and Theophanes the Confessor.〔.〕〔.〕 ==Biography== Ablabius was a son of Meltiades. Nothing else is known about his family, and Ablabius's exact status in society is uncertain. The primary texts describe him as "ο Μελιστής" (the Melistes). This Greek word has two meanings, one of them being a name for a musician, related to the term melody ("singing, chanting"). A comment of Theophanes implies that Ablabius was a member of an entire faction of such people. Alan Cameron suggests that this was a circus faction, affiliated to the Blues and Greens of the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The second meaning is "monetarius" ("mint master", moneyer/münzmeister); thus, an official of the imperial mint. This term derives from μελίζει (melizei, "to cut"). Anastasius Bibliothecarius, who translated the chronicle of Theophanes to Latin, understood the term to have this meaning. Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange, an influential 17th-century historian, considered this the most likely meaning.〔 Ablabius was recruited by Marcellus as part of a plot to assassinate Emperor Justinian I.〔 The conspirators were apparently "important men in the business world" of Constantinople, and Marcellus himself was an "argyroprates". This term indicates either a silversmith ("argyros" is Greek for "silver"), goldsmith, or a banker. Another conspirator was Sergius, whose uncle Aetherius was curator of one of the imperial palaces, though better known for his part in a conspiracy against Emperor Justin II (r. 565–578).〔 Ablabius received fifty pounds of gold for his role in the plot.〔〔 The plot called for Ablabius to approach Emperor Justinian within the imperial triclinium (dining room). While Ablabius had access to the room, he was unable to approach the "sacred presence" of the Byzantine emperor without permission, and so he had to arrange matters with a palatine official.〔 He entrusted his secret to Eusebius and John, but this led to the discovery of the plot by the authorities.〔 when his requests aroused suspicions and were investigated.〔 On 25 November 562, Ablabius attempted to enter the palace of Emperor Justinian armed with a dagger, and was immediately arrested. His further fate is not recorded.〔 On hearing of Ablabius's arrest, Marcellus committed suicide rather than be captured, while Sergius sought sanctuary within the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae. Shortly afterwards, the reconstruction of Hagia Sophia was completed, and Paul the Silentiary composed a long epic poem known as Ekphrasis, for the rededication of the basilica. Paul mentions the conspiracy, stating that the conspirators were within the palace and about to attack when caught. He claims that God granted this victory to Emperor Justinian.〔 Peter N. Bell notes that "Paul devotes some 30 lines (25–55) near the start of his poem" to the plot of Ablabius and another 21 lines (937–958) to further conspiracies of the time. Paul emphasizes that God takes care of the personal safety of the Byzantine emperor, and portrays both Emperor Justinian and his deceased wife, Empress Theodora, as intercessors of humankind in its relation with God.〔.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ablabius (assassin)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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