The coronation of Basiliscus as Eastern Roman Emperor occurred on this day 1534 years ago. Basiliscus had managed to wrest power from the unpopular Emperor Zeno, but his reign proved to be brief although eventful. Shortly after he ascended to power, a substantial part of Constantinople was destroyed by fire. However, his government was corrupt and he alienated many of his supporters, so that Zeno was brought back to power in August 476.
One of the groups which Basiliscus alienated was the church. Just over 20 years previously, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church had met at the Council of Chalcedon and agreed that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, with the two natures (human and divine) being united in one person (Jesus). However, Basiliscus promoted the miaphysite christological position, which holds that divinity and humanity are united in one inseparable nature in Jesus.
The issue of whether Jesus had two natures or just one led to a split in the church which still persists. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches all hold to the Chalcedonian view. The miaphysite view is held by the Oriental Orthodox churches which include the Syriac Orthodox, Coptic orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic churches.