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'''Glycerius''' (born about [[420]], died after [[480]]) was one of the last of the western [[Roman Emperors]] (reigned [[473]]-[[474]]) and later served as a bishop in the early [[Catholicism|Catholic]] Church. |
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Western Emperor [[473]] - [[474]] of the [[Roman empire]]. |
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Glycerius held the rank of Count of the Domestics at the Imperial court in [[Ravenna]] when he was raised to the Imperial purple by the western empire's new master of soldiers, the [[Germanic peoples|German]] Gundobad, on or around [[March 3]], 473. As a puppet of Gundobad who had succeeded the legitmately chosen emperor [[Anthemius]], who had been murdered, he received no recognition from the eastern Roman ([[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]]} court of Emperor [[Leo I|Leo I of the Byzantine Empire]]. |
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Glycerius may well have saved the western empire from its final downfall for a few years. During his brief reign, [[Italy]] was threatened by both the [[Visigoths]], living in southern [[Gaul]] and [[Spain]] at the time, and the [[Ostrogoths]], living in [[Dalmatia]]. When the Ostrogoths moved into Gaul in 473, Glycerius sent Roman troops to the area, who prevented the armies of the two branches of [[Goths]] from joining forces against Rome. |
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However successful he might have been, however, Leo was unwilling to tolerate his presence on the western throne, and instead appointed his relative [[Julius Nepos]] as western emperor. Nepos, with a powerful force given him by Leo, sailed from Dalmatia to the port city of Ostia, near [[Rome]], in June 474. For whatever reason, Glycerius was there instead of at the capital of Ravenna, and he surrendered forthwith to Nepos. |
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Perhaps as a reward for his cooperation, Nepos granted the deposed emperor with the bisphoric of Salona, in Nepos' homeland of Dalmatia. Ironically, the two men crossed paths again only two years later, when Nepos was deposed by his own master of soldiers and forced to flee to Dalmatia, where he reigned as emperor-in-exile until [[480]]. |
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A contemporary account by the historian Malchus states that Glycerius was involved in a plot that resulted in Nepos' murder in either April or May of 480, most likely with the cooperation of [[Odoacer]], the barbarian King of Italy. Other accounts suggest that after Nepos' death, Glycerius was appointed by Odoacer to be bishop of Mediolanum (modern [[Milan]], then as now one of the largest cities in Europe. However, this has yet to be positively confirmed, and even the date of Glycerius' death is unknown. |
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'''Links''' |
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http://www.roman-empire.net/collapse/glycerius.html |
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Revision as of 19:27, 4 May 2002
Glycerius (born about 420, died after 480) was one of the last of the western Roman Emperors (reigned 473-474) and later served as a bishop in the early Catholic Church.
Glycerius held the rank of Count of the Domestics at the Imperial court in Ravenna when he was raised to the Imperial purple by the western empire's new master of soldiers, the German Gundobad, on or around March 3, 473. As a puppet of Gundobad who had succeeded the legitmately chosen emperor Anthemius, who had been murdered, he received no recognition from the eastern Roman (Byzantine} court of Emperor Leo I of the Byzantine Empire.
Glycerius may well have saved the western empire from its final downfall for a few years. During his brief reign, Italy was threatened by both the Visigoths, living in southern Gaul and Spain at the time, and the Ostrogoths, living in Dalmatia. When the Ostrogoths moved into Gaul in 473, Glycerius sent Roman troops to the area, who prevented the armies of the two branches of Goths from joining forces against Rome.
However successful he might have been, however, Leo was unwilling to tolerate his presence on the western throne, and instead appointed his relative Julius Nepos as western emperor. Nepos, with a powerful force given him by Leo, sailed from Dalmatia to the port city of Ostia, near Rome, in June 474. For whatever reason, Glycerius was there instead of at the capital of Ravenna, and he surrendered forthwith to Nepos.
Perhaps as a reward for his cooperation, Nepos granted the deposed emperor with the bisphoric of Salona, in Nepos' homeland of Dalmatia. Ironically, the two men crossed paths again only two years later, when Nepos was deposed by his own master of soldiers and forced to flee to Dalmatia, where he reigned as emperor-in-exile until 480.
A contemporary account by the historian Malchus states that Glycerius was involved in a plot that resulted in Nepos' murder in either April or May of 480, most likely with the cooperation of Odoacer, the barbarian King of Italy. Other accounts suggest that after Nepos' death, Glycerius was appointed by Odoacer to be bishop of Mediolanum (modern Milan, then as now one of the largest cities in Europe. However, this has yet to be positively confirmed, and even the date of Glycerius' death is unknown.