Anicius Olybrius (died AD 472) Olybrius was a member of the highly distinguished family of the Anicii which enjoyed excellent connections. One of Olybrius’ ancestors had been Sextus Petronius Probus, a powerful ministerial figure during the reign of Valentinian I. Meanwhile Olybrius himself was married to Valentinian III’s daughter Placidia the younger. But most important …
Procopius Anthemius(died AD 472) Anthemius was born in Galatia, and came from a wealthy and distinguished and highly influential family in the eastern empire, a recent ancestor of his, Procopius, having been declared Augustus at Constatinople in the brief rebellion against Valen’s rule in AD 365, and his father, also called Procopius, being of patrician …
(Died AD 465) After the death of Majorian there followed a period of over three months where no successor was named for the throne of the western empire.Then on 19 November AD 461 Libius Severus was proclaimed emperor. Little is known about Libius Severus’ origins and career, other that he came from Lucania in the …
Julius Valerius Majorianus(died AD 461) Little is known of Majorian’s beginnings, although he undoubtedly came from a high-standing family. His maternal grandfather had served Theodosius I as ‘Master of Soldiers’ and his father had been treasurer to Aetius. No doubt aided by such connections, Majorian made a military career and served as an officer to …
Marcus Maecilius Flavius Eparchius Avitus Avitus was the son of a rich and distinguished family from the Arvernian region in Gaul. He first had studied law but soon dedicated himself to a military career instead where by AD 437 had achieved the rank of ‘Master of Soldiers’ and became praetorian prefect for Gaul. His Gallic …