Aetius Attila’s Nemesis Read online

  Pope Leo I Bishop of Rome (Pope) from 440, in 452 Leo was sent on an embassy to Attila, apparently to organize the release of Attila’s captives. The story has changed over time into the wellknown version where he saved Rome from sack with the aid of divine intervention. In 455 he attempted to intercede with Gaiseric during the sack of Rome, and may have been responsible for Gaiseric limiting the course of the sack to looting.

  Rechiarius Son of the Suevic king Rechila, after Rechila’s death in 448 he plundered widely in Spain. He also married the daughter of Theoderic I. He made a peace treaty with Rome in 452 and renewed it in 454. After Aetius’ death he again began expanding Suevic territories in Spain, despite threats from Theoderic II. Shortly afterwards Theoderic II invaded Spain and Rechiarius was defeated and killed.

  Rechila A pagan king of the Sueves he succeeded to the throne in 438. He oversaw Suevic expansion in Spain when Aetius was concentrating his energies on Gaul and Africa. Prior to his death in 448 he had conquered the majority of Gallaecia, Baetica and Carthaginiensis.

  Rua Brother of Mundiuch and Octar, he was joint king of the Huns between his accession c.420 and death in 439. A staunch ally of Aetius, during his reign he supported Aetius’ successful attempt to regain his position in 433. His death ended the alliance between Aetius and the Huns and resulted in the accession of Attila and Bleda.

  Sebastian Son-in-law of Boniface, between Boniface’s death in 432 and Aetius’ return in 433 he was magister militum in the West. Fleeing the capital, he took refuge in the East, where he earned a poor reputation for allowing his followers to act as pirates. In 444 he fled to Toulouse and from there to Spain. He finally attempted to take refuge with the Vandals in Africa, but Gaiseric distrusted him and had him killed.

  Sigisvult One of Aetius’ most gifted subordinates, he was a Germanic Arian, although his origin is unknown. In 427 he was sent to Africa to continue the civil war against Boniface. He was in command in Africa until Boniface’s reinstatement at court in 429. As part of the wedding celebrations of Valentinian III and Eudoxia he was made Consul alongside Aetius in 437. Made magister militum, in 440 he organized Italian defences against the Vandals after they had conquered Africa. In 448 he was made patricius, but his career after this is unknown.

  Theoderic I King of the Visigoths (418–451), he succeeded Wallia in 418 and oversaw the foundation of the Gothic kingdom in the West. Unhappy with both the limits set on his kingdom and with his exclusion from Roman politics, he made several attempts to correct these grievances by attacking the empire, most notably in 425 and 436–439. In 451 he agreed to join Aetius against Attila. He was killed at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.

  Theoderic II Son of Theoderic I, in his youth he was taught by the Roman Avitus. He accompanied his father to the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451. Unhappy with the rule of his brother Thorismund, Theoderic and his brother Frederic had Thorismund murdered and Theoderic became king. In 455 he supported Avitus’ claim to the imperial throne. In the same year his envoys to his brother-in-law Rechiarius of the Sueves was rebuffed and Theoderic invaded Spain, capturing and killing Rechiarius. He oversaw the first expansion of the Goths and the establishment of an enlarged realm.

  Theodosius II Eastern Emperor (402–450). Married to Aelia Eudocia, in 437 his daughter Licinia Eudoxia married the Western Emperor Valentinian III, so re-uniting the dynastic lines of the two halves of the empire. Not a military man, he presided over the period when the East was forced to pay ever-larger ‘subsidies’ to the Huns under Attila and was also under pressure from the Persians in the east.

  Thorismund King of the Visigoths (451–453). Eldest son of Theoderic I, Thorismund accompanied his father to the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451. Although Theoderic was killed, Thorismund’s actions in driving through the centre of the Hunnic lines in an attempt to kill Attila resulted in the Huns’ flight and the victory going to the Romans and their allies. Assuming the throne, Thorismund attacked the Alans north of the Loire in 453 and also laid siege to Arles, possibly in anger at the lack of rewards he believed he was owed by Aetius for the death of his father at the Catalaunian Plains. Shortly afterwards he was murdered by his brothers Theoderic II and Frederic.

  Thraustila Possibly Aetius’ son-in-law. Either a Hun or a Goth, he served in Aetius’ bodyguard before being transferred to the bodyguard of Valentinian III. After Aetius’ death Optila assassinated Valentinian, and Thraustila the eunuch Heraclius, on the Campus Martius in 455.

  Trygetius In 435 he was Aetius’ envoy who negotiated the treaty with the Vandals in Africa. In 452 he accompanied Pope Leo in his embassy to the Huns to secure the release of their prisoners as they retreated from Italy.

  Uldin King of the Huns (400–408). He was allied to the Romans prior to 406 but invaded Thrace in 408. Possibly succeeded by Rua.

  Valentinian III Emperor of the West (425–455). Coming to the throne aged only six, Valentinian’s early years were dominated by his mother Placidia and his later years by Aetius. He married Eudoxia in 437. Allegedly a weak ruler, in 454 he was induced by Maximus and Heraclius the eunuch to kill Aetius, possibly in the hope that he would then be allowed to rule in person. The following year he was killed on the Campus Martius by Optila and Thraustila.

  Notes

  Introduction

  1. Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Rome and the Barbarians Roman Empire, Vol. 2, p. 380.

  2. Heather, Goths and Romans, p. 5ff.

  3. Mathisen and Shanzer, Society and Culture in Late Antique Gaul, p. 273.

  4. For the Chronicles of Prosper and Hydatius and the Gallic Chronicles of 452 and 511 Muhlberger, The Fifth-Century Chroniclers, is an invaluable introduction and commentary, from which much of this section is derived.

  5. Muhlberger, The Fifth-Century Chroniclers, p. 2.

  6. Ibid., p. 147.

  7. Whitby and Whitby, Chronicon Paschale 284–628 AD, p. ix.

  8. Muhlberger, Fifth-Century Chroniclers, pp. 147, 213.

  9. Ibid., p. 213.

  10. Ibid., p. 73ff.

  11. Ibid., p. 98. For more on Prosper’s ‘unhappiness’ with Aetius, see p. 99ff. Muhlberger comments: ‘one wonders what Prosper might have said if Aetius had not been ruling when he wrote’. However, Prosper wrote in editions, and in the last edition of 455 Aetius was dead, so we might be seeing Prosper’s ‘official’ opinion.

  12. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, p. 237, n. 78.

  13. Oost, ‘Aetius and Majorian’, p. 23.

  14. This section is based largely upon Clover, Flavius Merobaudes: A Translation and Historical Commentary, p. 7ff.

  15. PLRE Vol. 1, Merobaudes 2.

  16. Clover, Flavius Merobaudes, p. 8ff, esp. p. 8, n. 6 and n. 11.

  17. See especially Chapters 7, 8 and 10.

  18. On the similarities between the existing fragments of Merobaudes and the works of Claudian, Clover, Flavius Merobaudes, pp. 32–33: citing Vollmer, MGH: AA 14, pp. 3-6, 12-13, 16-20.

  19. See Chapter 8.

  20. For a detailed analysis of these poems, along with a bibliography, see Clover, Flavius Merobaudes, pp. 16–28.

  21. The dating of this piece is extremely difficult and several possibilities exist. The dating of 443–446 is that given by Clover, Flavius Merobaudes, pp. 32–41, where he also discusses the other hypotheses.

  22. Wood, in CAH, pp. 519–520.

  23. Cod. Th. 1.1.5 (26 March 429).

  24. Freeman, ‘Aetius and Boniface’, p. 423.

  25. Gaiseric being spelt ‘Zinzirich’, Chron. Pasch. s.a. 439.

  26. Kulikowski, ‘Nation versus Army: A Necessary Contrast?’, p. 69, n. 2.

  27. Collins, Visigothic Spain 409–711, p. 19.

  Chapter 1

  1. Birth 391, Clover, Flavius Merobaudes, p. 30.

  2. Kulikowski, Rome’s Gothic Wars, pp. 144–145.

  3. Merob. Carm. 4.42–43.

  4. Jord. Get. 34 (176).

  5. PLRE Vol. 2, Gaudent
ius 5, 493–494, translating Greg. Tur. 2.8. (citing Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus). See also Zos. 5.36.1; Jord. Get. 34 (176). The claim that Gaudentius was a Goth, based upon the late-Roman use of the term ‘Skythian’ for the Goths, appears to be mistaken.

  6. Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 281.

  7. Greg. Tur. 2.8; (Anonyma 6).

  8. I would like to thank Perry Gray for his thought-provoking input on Gaudentius’ political influence in Italy.

  9. Cod. Th. 9.17.3.

  10. On Stilicho, O’Flynn, Generalissimos of the Western Roman Empire, p. 15.

  11. For a summary of current thinking, ibid., p. 15. On Stilicho, see Greg. Tur. 2.8 (a puero praetorianus): cf. PLRE vols 1 and 2I, Stilicho.

  12. Cod. Just. 12.23; description of the post, Codex Justinianus, 12.23 (p. 9). See also, Jones, The Later Roman Empire, 284–602, PLRE 2, p. 174, n. 67.

  13. Jones, The Decline of the Ancient World, p. 200.

  14. Ibid., p. 139.

  15. Ibid., p. 140 ff.

  16. A similar system was adopted by Adolf Hitler in Germany between 1933 and 1945. The main purpose appears to have been to encourage friction between individuals, resulting in there being less chance of these same men allying with each other to overthrow Hitler. Although unattested, it is possible that the emperors followed this tradition as a matter of policy, rather than of mere chance.

  17. For a more detailed discussion of the Notitia, see the Introduction.

  18. Jones, Decline of the Ancient World, p. 173.

  19. A good example of this followed Stilicho’s war against Gildo in 398. When Stilicho seized Gildo’s lands for the empire following his victory, they were so great that a new official, the comes Gildoniaci patrimonii (Count of the Patrimony of Gildo), had to be appointed to administer them. Hughes, Stilicho, p. 112; Zos. 5.13.4.

  20. Rouche, ‘Autopsy of the West’, pp. 29–31.

  21. Ibid., p. 31.

  22. Ibid., pp. 34–35.

  23. Thompson, ‘Peasant Revolts in Late Roman Gaul and Spain’, p. 1506.

  24. These laws appear to have been introduced by Diocletian in the hope of solving internal problems of recruitment, training and social mobility. cf. Fossier, The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Middle Ages 350–950, p. 8.

  25. For a more detailed examination of the cause and effect of these changes, see Hughes, Stilicho, pp. 151–152.

  26. Fossier, Cambridge Illustrated History, p. 8.

  27. Cf. Halsall, Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, p. 249, where he notes that the Bacaudae in Spain were ‘local landlords who had established their own authority’.

  Chapter 2

  1. It is possible that Stilicho ‘revived or manufactured a claim’ that Theodosius had ordered that the prefecture of Illyricum be attached to the West: CAH, p. 121.

  2. For both hostages, Zos. 5.36.1.

  3. ‘400,000 Gauls and Germans’: Zos. 5.26.3. On a more believable estimation of numbers, see the discussion in Hughes, Stilicho, p. 164.

  4. Zos. 5.26.4.

  5. Williams and Friell, Theodosius, p. 155.

  6. Soz. 8.25.

  7. Soz. 8.25: Zos. 5.27.2.

  8. Zos. 5.27.2.

  9. For a more detailed analysis of these events, see Hughes, Stilicho, p. 177 ff.

  10. Chron. Gall. 452 s.a. 442.

  11. Olymp. fr. 12, perhaps giving the date as late 406, cf. PLRE Vol. 2, Marcus 2, 719: Zos. 6.2.1, giving the date as 407; cf. Soz. 9.11.2.

  12. ‘municeps eiusdem insulae’, Oros. 7.40.4.

  13. Paschoud on Zos. 5.27.1–2 suggests a date in February (referenced in Kulikowski, ‘Barbarians in Gaul’, p. 333, n. 48): Burns, Barbarians Within the Gates of Rome, p. 210 suggests the date of 1 March.

  14. Dating, Burns, Barbarians Within the Gates of Rome, p. 210; reason for overthrow, Kulikowski, ‘Barbarians in Gaul’, p. 332.

  15. For a full itinerary of the cities attacked, see Hughes, Stilicho, pp. 183–184.

  16. We are not informed directly that Constantine attempted to ally himself with the Vandals, Sueves and Alans. However, Oros. 7.40.4 and 7. 28. describes ‘unreliable alliances’ with barbarians and how these treaties were ‘not strictly kept’. This can only relate to treaties with the invaders.

  17. Oros. 7.28.

  18. Oros. 7.40.5.

  19. Zos. 5.27.2.

  20. As a reward for his service, Heraclianus was made comes Africae: Zos. 5.37.6; PLRE Vol. 2, Heraclianus 3, p. 539. He remained loyal to Honorius and was granted the consulship in 413. In that same year he rebelled, aiming to become emperor, before being murdered.

  21. Zos. 5.34.4. For the date of the execution, Addit. Ad Prosp. Haun. s.a. 408.

  22. Zos. 5.34.5.

  23. Zos. 5.37.6.

  24. Zos. 5.36.1.

  25. Greg. Tur. 2.8; Merobaudes, Pan, 2.1–4; Zos, 5.36.1

  26. Zos. 5.37.1.

  27. Jovius retained close ties with Alaric, Soz. 9.4.4.

  28. Zos. 48.3.

  29. Zos. 48.4.

  30. Zos. 5.45–52; Soz. 9.7.

  31. Zos. 6.12.3.

  32. Zos. 6.8.

  33. Zos. 6.6–12; Soz. 9.7.

  34. Zos. 6.13; Soz. 9.9.

  35. Zos. 6.5.2.

  36. For a greater analysis of this interpretation, see Hughes, Stilicho, 213–214.

  37. Probably following the rules of hospitalitas: cf. Burns, Rome and the Barbarians, p. 59; Hydatius 49; ‘Gerontius made peace with the barbarians’, Olymp. fr. 17.1.

  38. Hyd. s.a. 411.

  39. Hyd. s.a. 411.

  40. Matthews, Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court, pp. 354–356, 382.

  41. Attacks from ‘beyond the Rhine’, Zos. 6.5–6; attack by Saxons, Chron. Gall. 452, no. 62.

  42. Zos. 6.5–6: ‘Now the defection of Britain and the Celtic peoples took place during Constantine’s tyranny.’

  43. Goldsworthy, The Fall of the West, p. 303.

  44. Oros. 7.43.

  45. Matthews, Western Aristocracies, p. 331. Oros. 7. 43. A complex and debatable passage in Orosius also implies that a peace treaty had been concluded, although no date is given, Oros. 7.43.

  46. Kulikowski, The Visigothic Settlement in Aquitania’, p. 28; Hydatius, passim, but cf. Oros. 7.41.7.

  47. Collins, Visigothic Spain 409–711, p. 15.

  48. For the alternative date of 419, see Schwarcz in Mathisen and Shanzer, Society and Culture in Late Antique Gaul, pp. 15–25. Although a compelling argument, for the sake of simplicity the date of 418 will continue to be used.

  49. PLRE Vol. 2, Theodericus 2, 1070. cf. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.505.

  50. Sid. Ap. Carm. 7.505. Theoderic is nowhere mentioned as Alaric’s son, and since Sidonius attests that Theoderic’s son, also called Theoderic, was the grandson of Alaric, Theoderic must have married Alaric’s daughter.

  51. For a more detailed discussion, see TS Burns, ‘The Settlement of 418’ in Drinkwater and Elton, Fifth Century Gaul, p. 62ff, and bibliography.

  52. Philost. 12.4.

  53. CEV Nixon, ‘Relations between Visigoths and Romans in Fifth-Century Gaul’ in Drinkwater and Elton, Fifth Century Gaul, pp. 64–74.

  54. Olymp. fr. 8; PLRE Vol. 2, Constantius 17, p. 322.

  55. Nixon in Drinkwater and Elton, Fifth Century Gaul, p. 72.

  56. cf. Burns in ibid., p. 57.

  57. Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization, p. 56, referencing A. Loyen, ‘Les Débuts du royaume wisigoth de Toulouse’, Revue des études latines 12 (1934), pp. 406–415.

  58. Ward-Perkins, Fall of Rome, p. 67.

  59. Jones, The Decline of the Ancient World, p. 68.

  60. Ibid., p. 81 ff: cf. Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. 1, p. 207.

  61. As described in the Visigothic Code of Euric, Bury, History of the Later Roman Empire, p. 206, n. 89.

  62. Jones, Decline of the Ancient World, p. 81.

  63. Ward-Perkins, Fall of Rome, p. 66.

  64. Rouche in Foss
ier, Cambridge Illustrated History, p. 53.

  65. Ward-Perkins, Fall of Rome, p. 70.

  66. Rouche, ‘Break up and Metamorphosis’, p. 53.

  67. Hyd. s.a. 418.

  68. Collins, Visigothic Spain 409–711, p. 25, referencing C. Courtois, Les Vandales (Paris, 1955), p. 229.

  69. Poss. 28.

  70. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, pp. 264–265.

  71. Hyd. s.a. 419, Burgess, tr., p. 87.

  72. Heather, Fall of the Roman Empire, p. 265.

  73. Hyd. s.a. 420, referenced in PLRE Vol. II, Asterius 4, 171.

  74. Hyd. s.a. 420.

  75. Greg. Tur. 2.8; Merob. Pan. 2.1–4. Unfortunately, neither reference gives a date for Aetius’ time as a hostage to the Huns.

  76. For an in-depth analysis of the history of the Huns, see Maenchen-Helfen, The World of the Huns: for the period in question, esp. p. 70ff.

  77. Soc. 7.43.3.

  78. Invasion if Thrace, e.g. Soz. 8.25.1; help against Radagaisus, e.g. Oros. 7.37.12.

  79. PLRE Vol. 2, Uldin 1180; Soz. 11.5.1.

  80. Examples of Huns serving others are plentiful: the bucellarii serving Aetius himself; the claim by Ammianus that the Gothic king Vithimer, fighting against the first inroads of the Huns in the fourth century, used Hunnic mercenaries (31.3.3); Huns being used by Castinus later in 424 against Boniface (Pseudo-Aug. Ep. 4, PL33, 1095); see Chapter 7.

  81. MacGeorge, Late Roman Warlords, p. 12.

  82. Olymp. fr 18.

  83. Jord. Get. 180.

  84. For a full discussion of the problems surrounding Rua and Octar, see Maenchen-Helfen, World of the Huns, p. 80ff.

  85. Olymp. fr. 34.

  86. Marc. com. s.a. 419.

  87. Parens principum; PLRE Vol. 2, Constantius 17, 323, Inscr. 1–2; Emperor, PLRE Vol. 2, Constantius 17, 324; Theoph. AM 5913; Placidia Augusta, Olymp. fr. 31, Prosp. s.a. 423, 425; Valentinian nobilissimus, Olymp. fr. 34; Philost. 12.12.