Patricians and Emperors: The Last Rulers of the Western Roman Empire
Patricians and Emperors offers concise comparative biographies of the individuals who wielded power in the final decades of the Western Roman Empire, from the assassination of Aetius in 454 to the death of Julius Nepos in 480.
The book is divided into four parts. The first sets the background to the period, including brief histories of Stilicho (395-408) and Aetius (425-454), explaining the nature of the empire and the reasons for its decline. The second details the lives of Ricimer (455-472) and his great rival Marcellinus (455-468) by focusing on the stories of the numerous emperors that Ricimer raised and deposed. The third deals with the Patricians Gundobad (472-3) and Orestes (475-6), as well as explaining how the barbarian general Odoacer came to power in 476. The final part outlines and analyses the Fall of the West and the rise of barbarian kingdoms in France, Spain and Italy.
This is a very welcome book to anyone seeking to make sense of this chaotic, but crucial period.
- Read Later
- Log in or register to post comments
Comments
Hi All,
This in deed sounds like a great book especially since The Roman Empire is my favorite Period in History (everyone has a favorite Time in History somewhere) I have put this Book down as my to Buy List.
Hey while we're at it on The Subject of points of History in Roman Society is there anything on The Praetorians I think they're known as.
All I remember is that they stabbed
Caligula 36 Times but I had read in a Western Civilization Textbook that they had The Political Power to do so an remove a high person like Caligula or Nero.
I thought after, reading this in my Western Civilization Textbook is why Brutus, Casca, and Cassius got in so much trouble with assassinating Julius Caesar they weren't of that social class.
Anyway thank you for letting me Know about This Book, I'll see when I can possibly get it sometime.