Isaac the Armenian

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Isaac the Armenian was an Exarch of Ravenna hailing from the Kamsarakan clan. The chronology of the Exarchate in this period is uncertain: either he succeeded Euselnus and served c. 625 - 644; he succeeded Eleutherius, and served 620 - 637.

In 638 the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius demanded that the new Pope Severinus sign his Ecthesis, a Monothelite profession of faith. Severinus refused; Heraclius denied recognition to the pope and sent an official named Maurice to negotiate with the papacy. Maurice, after arriving in Rome, seized the Lateran and encouraged Isaac to come to the city. Isaac did so; he then briefly resided in the Lateran and with Maurice plundered the palace. Some of the treasure was sent to Heraclius; much of the rest went to the exarch. Some time later Maurice attempted to repeat the action, but in order to avoid sharing the wealth he denied recognition to the exarch. Isaac then captured Maurice and had him executed.

Isaac also dealt with the Lombards, with little success. Their king, Rothari, conquered all of the imperial possessions in Liguria, as well as much Emilia, in around 643. A battle fought between the Lombards and troops of the Exarchate near the Panaro ended in defeat for the Byzantines, with several thousand soldiers killed. Isaac himself probably met his death fighting the Lombards. He was succeeded as exarch by Theodore I Calliopas.

There is a sarcophagus of Isaac's located in the Sancta Sanctorum, which contains depictions of David, the adoration of the Magi, and Lazarus.