Alathar
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Alathar (fl. 513) was an Eastern Roman magister militum of Hunnish descent.
Alathar | |
|---|---|
| Died | after 513 AD |
| Allegiance | Eastern Roman Empire |
| Branch | Byzantine army |
| Service years | c. 513–515 |
| Rank | Magister militum per Thracias |
| Conflicts | Vitalian's rebellion |
Biography
Alathar was appointed Magister militum per Thracias by Anastasius I Dicorus. He succeeded the deceased Cyrillus in this capacity.[1] It is possible that he was appointed magister militium to attract the Huns in the army of rebel Vitalian to Anastasius' side.[2]
Alathar was defeated by Vitalian during the latter's rebellion. He was described as a "Scythian", a term that at the time was used to indicate the Huns. J. B. Bury, Ernst Stein and Georges Tate read "Scythian" as meaning "Hun" in this case.[1][3][4]
In Hun/Hungarian legends, Aladár is the son of Etele (Attila) and the German princess Kriemhild.[5]