Gerontius (general)

Gerontius († 411 in Hispania ) was a General of the Western Roman Emperor Constantine III counter. ( 407-411 ). 409 he rebelled against Constantine and let his own son Maximus proclaimed Emperor.

Life

Gerontius had 407 the usurper Constantine connected. In the same year he was sent together with Edobich to break the resistance of Stilicho commander Sarus, who had recently defeated generals of Constantine and Justinian Nebiogastes. Gerontius and Edobich forced Sarus, who besieged Constantinople in Valentia, to retreat over the Alps, but did not put him in as Constantine probably only secure his conquests and wanted before he dared to attack Italy. This also included the subjugation of Spain, where relatives of the Emperor Honorius were still loyal to the emperor. Constantine feared most, it would open a second front from there and took a first in Hispania. Constantine also brought his eldest son Constans from a convent, elevated him to Caesar ( Under Emperor ) and sent him to Spain with Gerontius. The loyal Western Roman troops was defeated there, with two relatives of Honorius, Didymus and Theodosiolus, were captured while escaping two other Lagodius and Verianus, succeeded by Konstantin Opel.

Constans left his wife and his household in the care of Gerontius in Caesar Augusta ( Saragossa ) to go to Arles, where his father had established his residence. There, however, he received an order to return to Spain, to repel the Germans, who had crossed the Rhine nearly two years ago (see Rhine crossing of 406). These were drawn by plundering Gaul and had 409 reaches the Pyrenees.

Gerontius should be recalled in this context of his post. During the preparations for this but Constans received the news that Gerontius collected and Maximus, had Olympiodorus of Thebes, according to his own son, raised to the emperor. Gerontius had even very likely, therefore, sought not the imperial dignity, because he wanted to keep direct control over the acting under the military, which was the deciding factor of power.

410/11 ( the chronology is uncertain) succeeded Gerontius, include Constans at Vienne. He captured him and had him executed. He then laid siege to Constantinople in 411 Arles. At the same time, Honorius looked able to take the counter-attack, after he had a new General found, the later Emperor Constantius III. , Who appeared in Arles. Constantius struck Gerontius into the flight and besieged even now Arles. After Constantius Edobichs had defeated relieving army, Constantine, who was executed resulted.

Gerontius had to give up his fight, his troops deserted him and he committed suicide. Maximus fled and stayed with Germanic mercenaries who had remained in Spain before he was executed in 422.