born 430?, Dyrrhachium, Epirus Vetus
died July 9, 518, Constantinople
Byzantine emperor (491518).
Originally a bodyguard to Zeno , he succeeded Zeno as emperor and married his widow. Anastasius reformed the monetary and taxation systems and expelled rebel tribes from Constantinople, building a wall to protect the capital against raiders. He recognized Theodoric 's rule in Italy (497) but later sent a fleet to ravage the Italian coast. War with Persia (5025) ended when he agreed to pay tribute to the Persian king. Anastasius accepted the Monophysite doctrine, a stand that caused unrest in Byzantium but fostered peace with Egypt and Syria.