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 Augustulus reign AD 475 – AD 476 Romulus Augustus was the son of Orestes who once had been an assistant to Attila the Hun, and who had at times been sent on diplomatic visits to Constantinople. After Attila’s death, Orestes joined the service of the western empire and quickly achieved senior position. In AD …
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 …
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 …