The Nicene Age · AD 313–400 · External witness
Balacius the Dux
d. c. AD 353 (thrown by his horse) · Arian military commander of Egypt · Alexandria
External witness
Who Balacius the Dux was
The dux of Egypt who scourged monks and virgins in the Arian interest under the prefect Nestorius — and who, receiving Antony's letter of warning ('I see wrath coming upon thee: cease persecuting the Christians'), spat on it, flung it down, and sent threats after the hermit. Within days his own horse — the gentlest in his stable, Athanasius notes — turned and bit him from the saddle; he died of the wounds. The Life of Antony's one political ghost story, told with names attached.
Also listed in non-christian witnesses and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Balacius die?
Balacius the Dux is dated d. c. AD 353 (thrown by his horse) in the archive, which places Balacius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Balacius?
Balacius the Dux is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Athanasius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Balacius from?
The archive associates Balacius the Dux with Alexandria.
Who were Balacius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Balacius the Dux to 2 other figures, including Anthony the Great and Athanasius of Alexandria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Life of Antony 86
c. AD 350Balacius read the letter, spat upon it, and cast it on the ground… on the fifth day the horse on which he sat, the quietest of all his stable, threw him and fell upon him, and within three days he died.Athanasius of Alexandria · 86 · source text
History of the Arians 14 (the same end told to the church)
c. AD 358The horse turned his head and bit Balacius, and threw him from his seat; he was carried to the city, and died in three days.Athanasius of Alexandria · History of the Arians 14 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Balacius.