Aspar
Flavius Ardabur Aspar (? -
471), an
Alan, was the
magister militum ("Master of Soldiers") of the
Byzantine Empire. He could not become
emperor because of his
Arian religion. Instead, his subordinate,
Marcian, became emperor by marrying
Theodosius II's sister
Pulcheria.
In 471 Aspar was killed together with his son Ardabur in an assault.
Aspar was the teacher of Theodoric the Great, who later became king of the Ostrogoths.