Majorian

Flavius ​​Julius Valerius Majorian († August 7 in Dertona 461 ), known as Majorian, was 457-461 Western Roman Emperor.

Life

A native of Illyria and Italy Roman Majorian had served in the Western Roman army still under the Heermeister Aetius, with the share he had won a victory over the Merovingian (?) Chlodio 447 in Gaul. After Aetius ' violent death 454 called him the harried Valentinian III. to him to Rome and made him the new comes domesticorum ( Guard commander ), but fell to the emperor himself soon assassinated. During the subsequent turmoil of the Dowager Empress Eudoxia Licinia be said to have used, according to Priscus for the loyal Majorian to rise to Augustus, but first in vain. Under the Emperor Petronius Maximus brief, a civilian from old senatorial nobility, Majorian was perhaps also appointed Master of the Soldiers ( Captains ), but this is rather unlikely, since he must rather be considered as a rival and enemy of Maximus. His successor Avitus transported in any case a certain Remistus for Master of the Soldiers, so that Majorian likely continue comes domesticorum was.

In any case, the military leader of Italy does not seem to have been satisfied with the Gallic senator Avitus. Majorian therefore rebelled soon with the help of the second army Ricimer master, who had become the determining figure in Italy since the death of Maximus. After the fall of Avitus in October 456 Majorian was appointed on February 28, 457 for Captains, this time by the emperor of the East, and then probably proclaimed on April 1 457 under unclear circumstances by the army to the emperor of the western empire. The Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I realized Majorian first probably best as Caesar and only after lengthy negotiations, on 28 December the same year as Augustus. Only then, on 11 January 458, the new Western Emperor issued his first law (Nov. Maior. 1). This was addressed to the Senate and proved the Italian senators who were probably also have been unhappy with Avitus, demonstratively great respect, but at the same time made ​​it clear that Ricimer was next Majorian de facto peer commander of the Western Roman army.

Majorian, who together with Leo held 458 the consulate had because of his military background initially quite a very strong position and was probably not, as sometimes thought, just a puppet Ricimers: Majorian tried as one of the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire still active, the imperial rule to stabilize in the West - only Anthemius should still be similar energetic show ( and also fail ). An important source for his reign are the letters and poems of Sidonius Apollinaris Senators, who held a eulogy among other things, the new emperor, with which you apparently linked high hopes. A renovation and expansion of the Rostra, the great tribune in the Roman Forum, is likely to fall in the early stages of his reign and had a naval victory over the Vandals on the occasion, which was, however, still won under Avitus.

The senatorial aristocracy of Gaul who had supported Avitus, Majorian recognized initially did not seem as emperor, but regarded Leo as the sole Augustus. Maybe trying a Gallic senator named Marcellus, to instigate a conspiracy against Majorian. This resistance broke but together quickly, as Majorian pulled at the head of an army, which consisted largely of foederati, to Gaul in December 458. The Emperor agreed with Marcellinus, the rei militaris comes from Dalmatia, who had stood in opposition to the Western Roman imperial court since the death of Aetius. Using the Hun auxiliary troops of Marcellinus, the Vandals from Sicily were kept away. Meanwhile succeeded Majorian to keep up with the help of his old friend and master nunmehrigen army of Gaul, Aegidius, the Visigoths and Burgundians in Gaul at bay. The Visigoth Theodoric II rex was near Arles defeated by Majorian in a battle and was then forced to make peace. In fact, the rule of the Western Roman central government in this area has now been successfully stabilized one last time. Finally, Majorian, who apparently also pursued a policy of reform in the areas of taxation and the military came, before at the head of his army as the last emperor to to Hispania, and he planned to reconquer the vital, occupied by the Vandals province of Africa, the power base of the military leader Genseric. But the company failed 460 after a fleet of 300 ships had been in Cartagena ( perhaps through treachery ) wiped out by the Vandals. After this defeat, the Emperor withdrew to Gaul, where he resided for some time in Arles. It was not until the end of July 461, he broke again to Rome. Before he entered Italy, he dismissed his army, as he obviously was not expecting any trouble. However, in early August, he was deposed by the powerful Ricimer by surprise. The exact reasons for this are unclear. After the coup, Majorian was in any case tried by a military court to death and executed on only five days in cruel Dertona in Liguria ( northwestern Italy).

With his death ended the penultimate promising attempt of the western emperor to take the initiative against the overpowering become commanders of Roman and " barbarian " origin per se and to take back power itself. The positive assessment of the ruler is to be found already in late ancient authors as Prokopios of Caesarea ( this was the emperor, however, contrary to the facts of a plague die ). Aegidius rebelled after the assassination Majorians against Ricimer and founded in northern Gaul own still existing to 486 Gallo-Roman sphere of influence, which was based on the remnants of the Roman army of the Rhine.