Theoctistus () was the
Duke of Naples during a very confused period in her history. His reign began sometime around
818 and lasted until
821.
On the death of
Anthimus, a war of succession broke out in Naples on account of the number of pretenders to the ducal throne. Anthimus had not given his consent to the nobility to elect his successor and so Naples was left without a
de jure duke on his death. The populace, seeing the uncertainty of the aristocracy, in a
coup d'état, invaded the
Praetorium with the support of the upper strata of the military hierarchy, and constrained their rulers to send a delegation to
Sicily to solicit a new duke from the
patrician there, who had authority over the
Ducatus Neapolitanus.
With the appointment of Theoctistus to the vacant post, Naples was once again brought under
Byzantine influence. Theoctistus was a military man at heart and he opened up a period of wars for the duchy. Nevertheless, he was replaced by another duke from Sicily,
Theodore II, who arrived in Naples in 821.
Sources
- Schipa, Michelangelo. Storia del Ducato Napolitano. Napoli, 1895.
- Cassandro, Giovanni. Il Ducato bizantino in Storia di Napoli Vol I. Napoli, 1975.
Category:Dukes of NaplesCategory:9th-century rulers in Europeit:Teoctisto di Napolipl:Teoctistusru:Феоктист (герцог Неаполя)uk:Феоктист (неаполітанський дука)
