Patricians and Emperors: The Last Rulers of the Western Roman Empire

by Ian Hughes

Overview

Patricians and Emperors offers concise comparative biographies of the individuals who wielded power in the final decades of the Western Roman Empire, from the assassination of Aetius in 454 to the death of Julius Nepos in 480.

The book is divided into four parts. The first sets the background to the period, including brief histories of Stilicho (395-408) and Aetius (425-454), explaining the nature of the empire and the reasons for its decline. The second details the lives of Ricimer (455-472) and his great rival Marcellinus (455-468) by focusing on the stories of the numerous emperors that Ricimer raised and deposed. The third deals with the Patricians Gundobad (472-3) and Orestes (475-6), as well as explaining how the barbarian general Odoacer came to power in 476. The final part outlines and analyses the Fall of the West and the rise of barbarian kingdoms in France, Spain and Italy.

This is a very welcome book to anyone seeking to make sense of this chaotic, but crucial period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399074643
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	07/04/2022
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ian Hughes specializes in Late Roman history and is the author of Belisarius, the Last Roman General (2009); Stilicho, the Vandal who Saved Rome (2010); Aetius: Attila’s Nemesis (2012); Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople (2013); Patricians and Emperors (2015); and Gaiseric, the Vandal Who Destroyed Rome (2017). A former teacher whose hobbies include football, wargaming, and restoring electric guitars, Ian lives near Barnsley in South Yorkshire.

Table of Contents

Dedication vii

Acknowledgements viii

List of Maps x

List of Plates xi

Introduction xiii

Part 1 Prelude 1

Chapter 1 The Roman Empire, 395-455 3

Chapter 2 The Western Army, 454 14

Part 2 Ricimer 37

Chapter 3 A Brief Prelude: Petronius Maximus - 17 March 455-22/31 May 455 39

Chapter 4 Eparchius Avitus - 9 July/5 August 455-October 456/February 457 49

Chapter 5 Majorian - 1 April 457-August 461 65

Chapter 6 Majorian: Apotheosis - 458 73

Chapter 7 Majorian: The Fall 85

Chapter 8 Libius Severus - 19 November 461-15 August/post 25 September 465 97

Chapter 9 Anthemius: Hope Renewed - 12 April 467-11 July 472 116

Chapter 10 The African Campaign 125

Chapter 11 Anthemius: Disintegration And Civil War 138

Chapter 12 Olybrius-April/May 472-22 October/2 November 472 154

Part 3 Dissolution of the Empire - Gundobad and Orestes 163

Chapter 13 Glycerius - 3 March 473-June 474 165

Chapter 14 Julius Nepos -June 474-28 August 475 174

Chapter 15 Romulus Augustulus - 31 October 475-4 September 476 187

Part 4 The End - Odovacer, Julius Nepos And Syagrius 195

Chapter 16 Odovacer, Julius Nepos and Syagrius 197

Chapter 17 Conclusion 218

Outline Chronology 229

Notes and References 235

Bibliography 263

Index 271