Anicetus

Who was Anicetus?

Anicetus was the leader of an unsuccessful anti-Roman uprising in Colchis in 69. Formerly a freedman of King Polemon II of Pontus, Anicetus commanded the royal fleet until Polemonia was converted into a Roman province under Emperor Nero in 63. During the civil war following Nero’s death, Anicetus sided with Vitellius and led a general insurrection against Vespasian in Trapezus and Colchis 69. The rebels destroyed the Roman fleet in a sudden attack on Trapezus and then turned to piracy using a type of boat known as camarae.

The revolt was however put down by the Roman reinforcements under Virdius Geminus, a lieutenant of Vespasian. Overtaken at the mouth of the river Cohibus located in Mingrelia of Lazica, Anicetus was surrendered to the Romans by the local tribesmen, and put to death.