 Basiliscus had relied on the support of some major figures of the court in his bid for power . However , he quickly lost most of them . First , Basiliscus alienated his own sister Verina 's support , executing the Magister <unk> Patricius . Patricius was the lover of Verina , and the empress had planned to raise him to the imperial rank and to marry him : the very revolt against Zeno had been organised to make Patricius emperor . Basiliscus , however , had out @-@ witted his sister , and , after the flight of Zeno , had the ministers and the Senate choose him , and not Patricius , as Emperor . Basiliscus ordered the death of Patricius , as the officer was a natural candidate to overthrow the new Emperor ; as a consequence , Verina later intrigued against Basiliscus , because of her lover 's execution . 
