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Ascum () was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565). He was in command of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. His name is reported by John Malalas. Both Theophanes the Confessor and George Kedrenos render his name "Ακούμ" (Acum).

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0600-01-01
date of birth
0500-00-00

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Ascum () was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565). He was in command of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. His name is reported by John Malalas. Both Theophanes the Confessor and George Kedrenos render his name "Ακούμ" (Acum).

==Biography== John Malalas writes that Ascum was a Hun and a godson of Justinian I. Some modern historians consider it possible that the "Huns" of the primary sources were actually Bulgars. Denis Sinor and Michael Withby described Ascum as a Hun, as did Hyun Jin Kim, who specifies he was a Caucasian Hunnic sub-king. Patrick Amory considers the name Ascum to be Germanic in origin, though with the Huns ethnicity and etymology rarely go hand in hand (the name of Attila himself is considered to be of Germanic origin).

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