Ricimer, the Suebian who wanted to be emperor During
Theodosius I, the characters of barbarian origin but of great ability, assumed important roles in the management of
res militaria empire. But with
Valentinian III, their importance grew dramatically, until they became the real arbiters of
Rome.
Etius was first, and then came Ricimer, true arbiter of the
West, and to some extent, also the Orient.
If
Avitus could be first ousted and then killed by treachery, it is because Marcianus wanted him, but because Ricimer allows. It 'just, therefore, to ask what were the motives Ricimer to stab behind him who
had elevated to the rank of magister militvm.
The ambition is always the key to
spring the great majority of
men.
Avitus had a strategic plan in which Theodoric II and the
Visigoths had a central role, perhaps that was precisely what he could not pleasure or a Marcianus or mainly Ricimer, aware that in a hypothetical federation "Roman-Visigoth" the role of visible
head of the empire would certainly remained at
Avitus, but to strong
arm was at Theodoric II, and same Ricimer would become of secondary importance. Instead ousting
Avitus, Ricimer got the best result possible: he be the sole operator of the destinies of the Western Empire.
Understanding Ricimer helps put in perspective this quarter century, and beyond. While Ricimer is driven by the largest possible ambitions, are of the imperial purple, although its behavior is strongly motivated by resentment and 'conscious of
his great
military capacity, and even politics, but too often felt misunderstood in its value for
his source
barbaric.
Leo I probably would have liked to crown him emperor and the title of patricivs could be the first step. But who was opposed to this project hardware stores, was the Pope Leo the Great, first sponsor of Mayorianus, that on more than one occasion humiliated publicly the Germanic general, Suebian for father and grandson of the Visigothic
king Wallia but my mother's
side. The Senate tolerated and certainly more of a senator flattered him, but knew perfectly Ricimer to be scorned because of its origin.
The only one that surely does not contempt, but on the contrary, he fully appreciated its merits, was
Avitus, who in fact made him magister militvm. But in the draft
Avitus of integration between the
Romans and
Visigoths, Ricimer would remain excluded from this political role of arbiter of the empire to which aspired. From there
his betrayal.
In 457 Ricimer tolerate being elected emperor Mayorianus, but in 461 he does kill him and replace it with
Libius Severus. In fact, after the death of Mayorianus, Ricimer decided to put on the imperial throne someone who claimed to be able to manipulate at will, and chose Senator
Libius Severus, who
had no
merit. The new emperor, however, he faced the disapproval of
Leo I.
Libius Severus was not even recognized by any of the partners'
military Mayorianus, neither by Egidius in
Gaul (which he also aspired to the purple),
nor by Marcellinus in
Sicily and
Illyria,
nor Nepotianus from
Hispania. It 'very significant that Ricimer now considers that it no longer needs the support of the court of
Constantinople.
In 465 Ricimer perhaps put to death the emperor
Libius Severus (it is suspected that he
had poisoned) and ruled for eight months. Eventually, however,
had to accept
Anthemius (chosen by
Leo I), whose daughter married diplomatically Alipia.
In 468 Ricimer commanded the
Roman army in an expedition organized by
Leo I against the
Vandals of Geiseric: the expedition, however, failed. Ricimer was accused plotting for this to happen.
Four years later, Ricimer moved to
Mediolanum, ready to wage war against
Anthemius. St. Epiphanius,
bishop of Pavia, he secured a truce, which, however, was shortlived, and soon after Ricimer appeared before
Rome with an army of Germans proclaimed emperor
Olybrius, candidate supported earlier by Genserico. In July 472 Ricimer defeated
Anthemius, who was killed.
During the civil war
Rome was sacked again (third sack of
Rome). Ricimer died a few weeks later. Even
Olybrius died and was succeeded in 473
Glycerius. However, less than two months after Ricimer died of fever and the title was taken by
his nephew Patrick Gundobaldo.
