Ricimer

Ricimer ( Flavius Ricimerus ) (born towards 405, dead the August 18th 472) is a general of the Roman Empire of Occident of origin Goth.

Biography

Wire of a Suève, Ricimer is by his/her mother grandson of king Wisigoth Wallia. It orders the armed forces of Italy, a Corsica victory in over a fleet vandal makes it popular.

Of 456 with 472, date of its death, its career like Patrice illustrates the dead end of the policy of total germanisation of the Roman armies: during 16 years it controls what remains of Western Empire, but its barbarian origin prohibits the accession with the imperial title to him and opposes it to the other barbarians Goths and Burgondes. And its opportunism to maintain its capacity leads it to make and demolish the emperors.

With Pleasure in 456, Ricimer, ordering Roman armed forces reverses the emperor Avitus. It saves Avitus and allows him to become bishop of Pleasure.

He supports the rise of Majorien in 456, scrambles with him in 461. He imposes Libius Severus into 461, and benefits with his death in 465 from an interregnum from two years while waiting for the arrival Anthémius, named by the emperor of the East. Anthémius recognizes the importance of Ricimer by giving him his/her daughter in marriage. In spite of that, their cohabitation was hardly easy: whereas Anthémius (or Anthémios) qualified Ricimer of “barbarian in fur”, this one called the first of “Gallate excitable”.

In 472, Ricimer proclaims Olybrius against Anthémius, besieges Anthémius in Rome and kills it.

He dies shortly after of natural death, having completely devaluated the imperial title.

Quotations

Quotation of Sidoine Apollinaire: “Invincible Ricimer, on which depends the fate on the State”.

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