Jovian Ceparius
Introduction '''Jovian''', surnamed '''Hypatus''' or '''Ceparius''' (Italian: ''Gioviano Ceparico Ipato''), was Byzantine ''magister militum per Venetiae'' in charge of the duchy of Venice in 740.Following the murder of the doge Orso Ipato in 737, the Exarch of Ravenna imposed administration by annual ''magistri militum'' on Venice who replaced the doge. Jovian was the fourth of these officials. This period of government by ''magistri militum'' lasted until 742, when the fifth and last of such officials was deposed and the dogeship was restored.Not much is known about Jovian. John the Deacon, who wrote the ''Chronicon Venetum et Gradense'', in the early 11th century, said that he ruled wisely. He called him the ''ipato'' named Jovianus. This indicates that he had the title of ''hypatos''. This was a Byzantine honorary title which roughly meant first among the consuls. During his government there was a violent clash between the town of Heraclia and neighbour and rival Equilium.
References * Heinrich Kretschmayr, ''Geschichte von Venedig, Band I: Bis zum Tode Enrico Dandolos'', Gotha 1905* Samuele Romanin, ''Storia documentata di Venezia'', Pietro Naratovich tipografo editore, Venezia, 1853.