Tarrach (died 515) was a Hun military officer for the East Roman Empire. He was the assassin of the officer Cyril. Tarrach was credited as the "fiercest of the Huns".[1][2]

Biography

Otto Maenchen-Helfen listed his name among those of undetermined origin. He noted that, if he was baptized, his original pagan name might have been assimilated to Tarachus, the name of one of the three martyrs of Cappadocia.[2]

The general Vitalian employed him to assassinate Cyril. Cyril was an officer who had been appointed by the Emperor instead of the unpopular Hypatius. Cyril immediately marched to Lower Moesia, but Vitalian sent Tarrach, who successfully assassinated him.[3]

In 515 Vitalian mobilized his army, with Tarrach as one of its officers, and marched towards Constantinople for a second time, but was defeated and retreated north with his troops.[4] After the collapse of Vitalian's second rebellion, Tarrach was captured. Described as the "fiercest of the Huns", he was tortured and burned at the stake in Chalcedon.[5]

References

  1. ^ Haarer, Fiona K. (2006). Anastasius I. Politics and Empire in the Late Roman World. Francis Cairns. ISBN 9780905205434. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. "The World of the Huns. Chapter IX. Language". pp. 449–452. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. ^ Bury 1958, p. 452.
  4. ^ Bury 1958, pp. 451–452.
  5. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. (2022). Knight, Max (ed.). The World of the Huns Studies in Their History and Culture. University of California Press. p. 421. ISBN 9780520357204. Retrieved 27 October 2022.

Sources

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