Olybrius

Flavius ​​Anicius Olybrius († 472 ) was from March or April to October or November 472 Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

Life

Olybrius came from the very influential family of Anicii that counted in the 5th and 6th centuries, the most powerful senatorial families in East and West. Through his marriage to Valentinian III. Placidia daughter he had married into the Theodosian dynasty. 455 he had to flee to the East after the assassination of his father from Italy; 457 he held therefore in Constantinople Opel and was traded after the sudden death of Emperor Markians as a promising candidate for the throne. But he had a disadvantage compared to Leo. 464 Consul, he was repeatedly suggested by the Vandal king Genseric vain as Emperor of the West; Genseric's son Placidia sister Eudocia had married and was therefore related to Olybrius. 472 This was sent by the Byzantine Emperor Leo with soldiers to Italy for the local resolve disputes (according to other sources to be even new Augustus ).

Anyway, he was charged with the support of the powerful Western Roman army Ricimer master, who had fallen out with the Augustus emperor Anthemius. As background, it can be said that an attempt was made in this way, to approach the mighty Genseric. Ricimer so but probably retired to the wrath of the Emperor Leo, who had supported Anthemius; the statements of the sources in regard to the question whether this Olybrius ever formally recognized, are contradictory. The mighty Ricimer died shortly afterwards. But Olybrius could thus be opened opportunities not use, because the already ailing emperor already died a short time later of dropsy. Therefore His reign lasted a total of only around half a year ( depending on the source between six and seven months ). Olybrius ' daughter Juliana Anicia should be one of the most influential people in East and West Rome in the decades that followed, however.