The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Besas
d. AD 250 (beheaded) · Soldier of the guard · Martyr · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Besas was
A soldier on duty as Julian and Cronion were led away, who turned on the crowd jeering at them. The mob shouted him down and he was arraigned on the spot and beheaded. He is one of the very few named soldiers in the persecutions who dies not for refusing to sacrifice but for defending someone else in the street.
Named once in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History; no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.
Common questions
When did Besas die?
Besas is dated d. AD 250 (beheaded) in the archive, which places Besas in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Besas?
Besas is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Besas from?
The archive associates Besas with Alexandria.
Who were Besas’ contemporaries?
The archive links Besas to 2 other figures, including Julian the Confessor and Cronion Eunus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Letter to Fabius of Antioch, VI.41.16 — transmitted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History (c. 325)
c. AD 251But a soldier, named Besas, who stood by them as they were led away rebuked those who insulted them. And they cried out against him, and this most manly warrior of God was arraigned, and having done nobly in the great contest for piety, was beheaded.Dionysius of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History VI.41.16 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Besas.