Theodosius (son of Maurice)

Theodosius (Ancient Greek: Θεοδόσιος, romanized: Theodósios; 4 August 583 – shortly after 27 November 602) was the eldest son of Roman emperor Maurice (r. 582–602) and was co-emperor from 590 until his deposition and execution during a military revolt. Along with his father-in-law Germanus, he was briefly proposed as successor to Maurice by the troops, but the army eventually favoured Phocas instead. Sent in an abortive mission to secure aid from Sassanid Persia by his father, Theodosius was said to have been captured and executed by Phocas's supporters a few days after Maurice. Nevertheless, rumours spread that he had survived the execution, and became popular to the extent that a man who purported to be Theodosius was entertained by the Persians as a pretext for launching a war against Byzantium. There is debate over whether this man was an imposter or genuinely Theodosius.