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Exile Case

Here you will find information about an individual exile case and links which enable you to view exile locations on a map as well as visualise the relationships between people and groups using a network diagram.
Person/Group Nestorius ( view the social network for this person / group )
Exile Date 431 - after 450 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/450)
Exile Date Notes According to Martin F.G. Parmentier, “A Letter from Theodoret of Cyrus to the Exiled Nestorius (CPG 6270) in a Syriac Version,” Bijdragen 51:3 (1990), 234-245, he was exiled in 435
Sources Evagrius, historia ecclesiastica 1.7; ACO 1.1.3, 110 (Schwartz, 67); 1.4, 166-7, 189-90; Codex Theodosianus 16.5.66; Barhadbessaba Arbaia (Nau, PO 9/5, 1913:493-677) 27-30; Elias' letter to Cosmas (Nau, PO 13/2, 1916:273-86); Chronicle of Seert (Sher, PO 5/2, 1950:221-344); Iohannes Rufus, Plerophories (Nau, PO 8, 1911:405-608); Michael Syrus (Chabot, vol. 2); Severus of Hermopolis, historia Patriarcharum Alexandrinorum (Evetts, PO 1/4, 1948, 383-518); John Moschus, Pratum Spirituale (ed. Th. Nissen, "Unbekannte Erzählungen aus dem Pratum Spirituale", Byzantinische Zeitschrift 38, 1938, 351-376); Historia Ecclesiastica Coptica (ed. D.W. Johnson, "Further Fragments of a Coptic Church History of the Church: Cambridge Or. 1699 R.", Enchoria 6, 1976, 7-17);

Locations view exile locations

Location of exile's previous office Constantinopolis [Istanbul]
Location exiled from Ephesus [Selçuk]
Location exiled to Antiochia/Theoupolis [Antakya]
Location(s) arrived at Antiochia/Theoupolis [Antakya]
Date of arrival 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location place of former monastry
Type of location city,monastery
Reason for leaving moved by authorities
   
Location(s) arrived at Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
Date of arrival 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location monastery
Reason for leaving fled barbarians
   
Location(s) arrived at Panopolis [Akhmim]
Date of arrival after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location settlement
Reason for leaving moved by authorities
   
Location(s) arrived at Syene [Aswan]
Date of arrival after 436 (from: --/--/-- to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location settlement
Reason for leaving moved by authorities
   
Location(s) arrived at Panopolis [Akhmim]
Date of arrival after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location settlement,fortress
Reason for leaving moved by authorities
   
Location(s) arrived at Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
Date of arrival after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
Relationship to location alien place
Type of location monastery
Reason for leaving n/a
Location(s) exile returned to
Location of office after return
Notes Nestorius himself asked Theodosius for permission to go to his monastery in Antioch. He was exiled to Petra in 435 but instead went to Oasis Magna, where he had arrived by 436, he was temporarily in Panopolis and Syene. At some unknown point, he was imprisoned by the tribe of the Blemmyes. According to Elias' letter to Cosmas (Nau, PO 13/2, 1916:273-86), Nestorius was driven to the counrty of Cushits, on a Nile island, where he performed many miracles, including bringing a spring to the desert, where he was taken by robbers, and post-humous healing miracles. Reports of miracles are also found in the Arabic Chronicle of Seert (Sher, PO 5/2, 1950:221-344).

Activities in Exile

Activities Related to Doctrine He had access to council acts
Died in exile? yes
Reason for death allegedly died after falling from a horse, but according to John Moschus his intestines exploded while sitting on a toilet
Writings in Exile yes
   
Title of writing Letters
Genre Correspondence
Extant? partly
Notes two letters preserved in extracts in Euagrius, HE 1.7
   
Title of writing Bazaar (Book of Heraclides)
Genre Treatise
Extant? yes
Notes extant in Syriac versions, edited by P. Bedjan, Le livre d'Héraclide de Damas (1910), translated by F. Nau, Le livre d'Héraclide de Damas (1910) and G.R. Driver/L. Hodgson, Nestorius, the Bazaar of Heracleides (1925), also known in Latin translations. Originally written in Greek
   
Title of writing Letters to Theodoret of Cyrrhus
Genre Correspondence
Extant? yes
Notes edited by Martin F.G. Parmentier, “A Letter from Theodoret of Cyrus to the Exiled Nestorius (CPG 6270) in a Syriac Version,” Bijdragen 51:3 (1990), 234-45
   
Title of writing Tragedy
Genre autobiography
Extant? partly
Notes mentioned by Mar Abd Yeshua in his index of biblical and ecclesiastical writings (Assmani, 1725:35-6). Fragments in Euagrius and Severus of Antioch (see Abramwoski, 1963:27-32)
   

Legal details

Threat only no
Refuge from judicial proceedings no
Consequence of asylum no
Offenses exiled for/accused of Nestorianism
Legal type of exile unknown
Additional punishments property confiscation, book-burning, book ban
Intended duration permanent
Actual duration permanent
Notes on core legal details book ban in 435
Returned? no
Reason for return
Notes on return Shortly after his death, an Imperial emissary arrived with permission for his release
Deposed by synod? yes
Synod deposed by Council of Ephesus 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
Returned by synod? n/a
Synod returned by

Religious status, office and affiliation

Religious status before exile clerical
Religious status during exile ??
Religious status after return n/a
Clerical or ascetic office before exile bishop
Clerical or ascetic office during exile
Clerical or ascetic office after return n/a
Enforced rank change? n/a
Religious affiliation before exile Nestorian
Religious affiliation during exile Nestorian
Religious affiliation after return
Died in exile? yes
Reason for death allegedly died after falling from a horse, but according to John Moschus his intestines exploded while sitting on a toilet

Cult

Venerated as a saint? No
Date (from: --/--/-- to: --/--/--)
Cult site
grave of Nestorius Locations: Panopolis [Akhmim] Date: after 450 (from: --/--/450 to: --/--/--)
Relics

Exile Relationships: Interactions

    Aelia Pulcheria

  • Interaction Date 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office Empress
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat)
    Yes

    • Theodosius II

  • Interaction Date 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office Emperor
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat)
    Yes

    • Maximianus of Constantinople

  • Interaction Date 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Constantinopolis [Istanbul]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Successor in post
    Yes

    • Messenger

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes bringer of summons, according to John Rufus, Plerophories
    Messenger
    Yes

    • aristocrat from Alexandria sent by the comes

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes sent to pay the troops in the Thebaid, talked with Nestorius and perceived his saying as blaspemous, according to John Rufus, Plerophories
    Receiver of benefaction from exile
    Yes (preaching, )

    • Dalmatius of Constantinople

  • Interaction Date 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Constantinopolis [Istanbul]
    Office Abbot
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) ascetic
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat)
    Yes

    • Dorotheus of Marcianopolis

  • Interaction Date after 432 (from: --/--/432 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Companion
    Yes

    • Dorotheus of Marcianopolis

  • Interaction Date 432-451 (from: --/--/432 to: --/--/451)
    Interaction Location Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes John Rufus, Plerophories (Nau, PO 8, 1911: 83), citing History composed by Timothy Aelurus.
    Companion
    Yes

    • Theodoretus of Cyrrhus

  • Interaction Date 435/6 (from: --/--/435 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Cyrus [Duruca]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Correspondent
    Yes (receiver of letter, writer of letter)

    • Photius

  • Interaction Date 435 - ? (from: --/--/435 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Petra [Petra]
    Office presbyter
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Companion
    Yes

    • Leontius

  • Interaction Date 3/8/435 (from: 3/8/435 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Constantinopolis [Istanbul]
    Office praefectus urbis Constantinopolitanae
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Other Interaction Type
    Yes (orders book-burning)

    • Valentinianus III

  • Interaction Date 3/8/435 (from: 3/8/435 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office Emperor
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Correspondent Other Interaction Type
    Yes (receiver of letter) Yes (orders book-burning)

    • Iohannes of Antioch

  • Interaction Date 435 (from: --/--/435 to: --/--/436)
    Interaction Location Antiochia/Theoupolis [Antakya]
    Office Bishop
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat) Other Interaction Type
    Yes Yes (orders book-burning)

    • Irenaeus

  • Interaction Date 435 - before 445 (from: --/--/435 to: --/--/445)
    Interaction Location Petra [Petra]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) unknown
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Companion
    Yes

    • Escorts of Nestorius

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Panopolis [Akhmim]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes escort from Panopolis to Syene
    Military Escort
    Yes

    • Flavius Anthemius Isidorus

  • Interaction Date 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Constantinopolis [Istanbul]
    Office PPO Orientis
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Responsible for moving exile to a different location Successor in post
    Yes Yes

    • Chamberlain accompanying Nestorius

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Companion
    Yes

    • Orthodox bishops

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality support, conflict?
    Notes Nestorius does not revoke
    Responsible for exile (or exile threat)
    Yes

    • Companions of Nestorius

  • Interaction Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Panopolis [Akhmim]
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) unknown
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes probably fellow exiles
    Companion
    Yes

    • Theodoretus of Cyrrhus

  • Interaction Date after 449 (from: --/--/449 to: --/--/451)
    Interaction Location
    Office
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) cleric
    Relationship Quality conflict?
    Notes
    Correspondent
    Yes (writer of letter)

    • Shenoute

  • Interaction Date before 451 (from: --/--/451 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Panopolis [Akhmim]
    Office Abbot
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) ascetic
    Relationship Quality conflict
    Notes
    Visitor
    Yes

    • Ioannes

  • Interaction Date 451 (from: --/--/451 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location Oasis Magna/Thebaidos [El-Kharga]
    Office tribunus (east)
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality support?
    Notes
    Messenger
    Yes

    • Marcianus (emperor)

  • Interaction Date 451 (from: --/--/451 to: --/--/--)
    Interaction Location
    Office Emperor
    Religious Affiliation (at time of relationship with exile)
    Religious Status (at time of relationship with exile) lay
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes
    Responsible for return
    Yes

Other Relationships: Contacts of an exiled Person/Group's contacts'

    Person 1 Theodosius II
    Person 2 Leontius
    Date 3/8/435 (from: 3/8/435 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality subordinate
    Notes addressee of law
    Person 1 Valentinianus III
    Person 2 Theodosius II
    Date 3/8/435 (from: 3/8/435 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality support?
    Notes co-emperors
    Person 1 Theodosius II
    Person 2 Dux and Comes of the Thebaid
    Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality subordinate
    Notes petitioner of Nestorius' behalf
    Person 1 Valentinianus III
    Person 2 Dux and Comes of the Thebaid
    Date after 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality subordinate
    Notes petitioner of Nestorius' behalf
    Person 1 Theodosius II
    Person 2 Aelia Pulcheria
    Date 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality kinship
    Notes Pulcheria persuades Theodosius to banish Nestorius to Oasis
    Person 1 Theodosius II
    Person 2 Dalmatius of Constantinople
    Date 436 (from: --/--/436 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality support
    Notes Dalmatius persuades Theodosius to banish Nestorius to Oasis
    Person 1 Marcianus (usurper)
    Person 2 Ioannes
    Date 451 (from: --/--/451 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality subordinate
    Notes Marcianus send Ioannes as a messenger to recall Nestorius from exile, but Nestorius dies on the way back.
    Person 1 Theodosius II
    Person 2 Aelia Pulcheria
    Date 431 (from: --/--/431 to: --/--/--)
    Relationship Quality kinship
    Notes Aelia Pulcheria instrumental in banishing Nestorius
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