Flavius Valentinianus(AD 321 – AD 375) Valentinian was born in AD 321 in Pannonia. His father was a certain Gratianus who came from Cibalae in Pannonia. The young Valentinian received a good education, even receiving training in painting and sculpture, arts for which he was to display much talent. After a military career he came …
Romulus Augustus, often remembered as the last Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire, stands as a significant figure in the annals of history. His reign, though brief, symbolizes the end of an era in ancient Rome. Unlike the long reigns of many emperors before him, Romulus Augustus’ time as emperor was short-lived, but his …
For way too long (think thousands of years), women and children had to slap laundry against rocks next to a river and later, work their hands into early arthritis with a scrub board. Thanks to one guy’s lightbulb moment, those days are long gone. Well, not as long as one might think. The act of …
Julius Nepos (Died AD 480) Julius Nepos was the son of Nepotianus, who had been ‘Master of Soldiers’ in the reign of Avitus. Furthermore, his mother was the sister of Marcellinus, the arch-enemy of Ricimer and commander of Dalmatia. After the death of Marcellinus (most likely due to a plot by Ricimer), Julius Nepos in …
Reign AD 473 – AD 474 Following the death of Olybrius there was a period of about four months during which there was no emperor in the west, sole rule therefore falling to Leo, emperor of the east. Leo struggled to find a suitable candidate. Hence in AD 473 Gundobad, who held the powerful position …
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 …