04-06-2006, 01:23 PM
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Description
"Late Roman Warlords" reconstructs the careers of some of the men who shaped (and were shaped by) the last quarter century of the Western Empire. There is a need for a new investigation of these warlords based on primary sources and including recent historical debates and theories. The difficult sources for this period have been analysed (and translated as necessary) to produce a chronological account, and relevant archaeological and numismatic evidence has been utilised. An overview of earlier warlords, including Aetius, is followed by three studies of individual warlords and the regions they dominated. The first covers Dalmatia and Marcellinus, its ruler during the 450s and 460s. A major theme is the question of Marcellinus' western or eastern affiliations: using an often-ignored Greek source, Penny MacGeorge suggests a new interpretation. The second part is concerned with the Gallic general Aegidius and his son Syagrius, who ruled in northern Gaul, probably from Soissons. This extends to AD 486 (well after the fall of the Western Empire).
The problem of the existence or non-existence of a 'kingdom of Soissons' is discussed, introducing evidence from the Merovingian period, and a solution put forward. This section also looks at how the political situation in northern Gaul might throw light on contemporary post-Roman Britain. The third study is of the barbarian patrician Ricimer, defender of Italy, and his successors (the Burgundian prince Gundobad and Orestes, a former employee of Attila) down to the coup of 476 by which Odovacer became the first barbarian king of Italy. This includes discussion of the character and motivation of Ricimer, particularly in relation to the emperors he promoted and destroyed, and of how historians' assessments of him have changed over time.
Table of Contents
Illustrations
Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction 1
1 Predecessors 5
Pt. I Marcellinus and Dalmatia 15
2 The Background and the Sources 17
3 The Origins and Career of Marcellinus 32
4 The Identity of Marcellinus: Can Procopius and the Other Sources be Reconciled? 64
Pt. II Aegidius, Syagrius, and the Kingdom of Soissons 69
5 The Background and the Sources 71
6 The Career of Aegidius 82
7 Syagrius and the Kingdom of Soissons 111
8 A Survey of the Material Evidence for Northern Gaul 137
9 Traces of the Kingdom of Soissons in the Merovingian Period 146
10 The Military Forces of Aegidius and Syagrius 153
11 Alternative Models for Northern Gaul in the Late Fifth Century 159
Pt. III Ricimer, Gundobad, Orestes, and Odovacer in Italy 165
12 The Background and the Sources 167
13 Ricimer's Early Career and the Reigns of Avitus and Majorian 178
14 Ricimer and the Reigns of Libius Severus, Anthemius, and Olybrius 215
15 Assessments of Ricimer 262
16 Gundobad, Orestes, and Odovacer 269
Conclusion 294
App Naval Power in the Fifth Century 306
Bibliography 312
More...
Description
"Late Roman Warlords" reconstructs the careers of some of the men who shaped (and were shaped by) the last quarter century of the Western Empire. There is a need for a new investigation of these warlords based on primary sources and including recent historical debates and theories. The difficult sources for this period have been analysed (and translated as necessary) to produce a chronological account, and relevant archaeological and numismatic evidence has been utilised. An overview of earlier warlords, including Aetius, is followed by three studies of individual warlords and the regions they dominated. The first covers Dalmatia and Marcellinus, its ruler during the 450s and 460s. A major theme is the question of Marcellinus' western or eastern affiliations: using an often-ignored Greek source, Penny MacGeorge suggests a new interpretation. The second part is concerned with the Gallic general Aegidius and his son Syagrius, who ruled in northern Gaul, probably from Soissons. This extends to AD 486 (well after the fall of the Western Empire).
The problem of the existence or non-existence of a 'kingdom of Soissons' is discussed, introducing evidence from the Merovingian period, and a solution put forward. This section also looks at how the political situation in northern Gaul might throw light on contemporary post-Roman Britain. The third study is of the barbarian patrician Ricimer, defender of Italy, and his successors (the Burgundian prince Gundobad and Orestes, a former employee of Attila) down to the coup of 476 by which Odovacer became the first barbarian king of Italy. This includes discussion of the character and motivation of Ricimer, particularly in relation to the emperors he promoted and destroyed, and of how historians' assessments of him have changed over time.
Table of Contents
Illustrations
Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction 1
1 Predecessors 5
Pt. I Marcellinus and Dalmatia 15
2 The Background and the Sources 17
3 The Origins and Career of Marcellinus 32
4 The Identity of Marcellinus: Can Procopius and the Other Sources be Reconciled? 64
Pt. II Aegidius, Syagrius, and the Kingdom of Soissons 69
5 The Background and the Sources 71
6 The Career of Aegidius 82
7 Syagrius and the Kingdom of Soissons 111
8 A Survey of the Material Evidence for Northern Gaul 137
9 Traces of the Kingdom of Soissons in the Merovingian Period 146
10 The Military Forces of Aegidius and Syagrius 153
11 Alternative Models for Northern Gaul in the Late Fifth Century 159
Pt. III Ricimer, Gundobad, Orestes, and Odovacer in Italy 165
12 The Background and the Sources 167
13 Ricimer's Early Career and the Reigns of Avitus and Majorian 178
14 Ricimer and the Reigns of Libius Severus, Anthemius, and Olybrius 215
15 Assessments of Ricimer 262
16 Gundobad, Orestes, and Odovacer 269
Conclusion 294
App Naval Power in the Fifth Century 306
Bibliography 312
More...
Tot ziens.
Geert S. (Sol Invicto Comiti)
Imperator Caesar divi Marci Antonini Pii Germanici Sarmatici ½filius divi Commodi frater divi Antonini Pii nepos divi Hadriani pronepos divi Traiani Parthici abnepos divi Nervae adnepos Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus Arabicus ½Adiabenicus Parthicus maximus pontifex maximus
Geert S. (Sol Invicto Comiti)
Imperator Caesar divi Marci Antonini Pii Germanici Sarmatici ½filius divi Commodi frater divi Antonini Pii nepos divi Hadriani pronepos divi Traiani Parthici abnepos divi Nervae adnepos Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus Arabicus ½Adiabenicus Parthicus maximus pontifex maximus
