Flavius aetius biography definition

It is known that his father, Gaudentius, had managed to get Honorius to agree to an alliance with the Huns to attack the barbarians who threatened the Roman borders and as a guarantee of said pact, an exchange of hostages was made, as a result of which Aetius lived among the Huns for about three years, during which he became familiar with their customs and military tactics.

He served as magister equitum in Gaul during Felix's military leadership, until in he himself rose to the magistracy of magister militum. From here, he became the most important person in the Western Empire. He protected Italy and stopped the expansion of the barbarians: he stopped the Visigoths in Gaul and cornered the Burgundians in Savoy. In the Battle of Mons Colubrarius in he defeated the Goths, which was celebrated by the poet Merobaudes in one of the two panegyrics he dedicated to him.

Other decisions are unwelcome but inevitable, such as recognition of the Vandal settlement in North Africa. His most notable campaign, the one that will earn him the nickname "the last Roman" in history, will be the one he will lead against the Huns. Shortly afterwards, Aetius returned to Italy with a large force of Huns to find that power in the west was now in the hands of Valentinian III and his mother Galla Placidia.

After fighting against Aspar's army, Aetius managed to compromise with Galla Placidia. He sent back his army of Huns and in return obtained the rank of comes et magister militum per Galliasthe commander in chief of the Roman army in Gaul. InAetius arrived in southern Gaul and took command of the field army. Aetius defeated Theodoric, lifted the siege of Arelate, and drove the Visigoths back to their holdings in Aquitania.

Inhe fought the Salian Franksdefeating their king Chlodio and recovering some territory they had occupied along the Rhine. In MayAetius and the Army accused Felix of plotting against him and some sources believe Aetius had him, his wife, and a deacon killed. Once Felix was dead, Aetius was the highest ranking amongst the magistri militiaeeven if he had not yet been granted the title of patricius or the senior command.

During and Aetius was in Raetia and Noricumre-establishing Roman rule on the Danubian Limescampaigning against the Juthungi [ 27 ] and defeating the Bagaudae in Augusta Vindelicorum. Aetius then defeated the Franksrecapturing Tournacum and Cambriacum. While Aetius was campaigning in Gaul, there was an ongoing power struggle among Aetius, FelixBonifaciusand the emperor Valentinian's mother and regent Galla Placidia.

In while Bonifacius was away as governor comes of AfricaFelix caused him to fall into disfavour with Placidia. Bonifacius was eventually returned to favor by Placidia, but only after Felix had sent Sigisvult and two other armies against him when Aetius warned him of Felix's intentions. Inthe Vandals exploited this power struggle and crossed over to Africa.

After the execution of Felix inAetius and Bonifacius remained as the empire's most influential generals, both constantly vying for the favor of Placidia. In Aetius held the consulatebut Bonifacius was recalled to Italy and received warmly by Placidia. Bonifacius was given the rank of patrician and made the senior comes et magister utriusque militiaewhile Aetius was stripped of his military command.

Aetius escaped to Pannonia and traveled to the court of his friend, Rugilathe king of the Huns. With their help he returned to power, receiving the title of comes et magister utriusque militiae. Aetius then had Bonifacius' son-in-law, Sebastianuswho had succeeded Bonifacius as magister militumexiled from Italy to Constantinoplebought the properties of Bonifacius, and married his widow Pelagia.

From toAetius was the dominant figure in the Western Empire, obtaining the rank of magnificus vir parens patriusque noster 5 September and playing the role of "protector" of Galla Placidia and Valentinian III while the Emperor was still young. Inthe Burgundians of King Gundacar were defeated and obliged to accept peace by Aetius and Avitus; however, the following year he sent Hun foederati to destroy them.

The year saw his second consulship and the wedding of Valentinian and Licinia Eudoxia in Constantinople ; it is probable that Aetius attended the ceremony that marked the restoration of the direct rule of the Emperor. At that time his general Litorius had broken the siege of Narbona and had turned the war in favor of the Romans. The following two years were occupied by a campaign against the Suebi and by the war against the Visigoths ; in Aetius won a flavius aetius biography definition battle probably the Battle of Mons Colubrariusbut in the Visigoths defeated and killed Litorius and his Hun Foederati.

His most pressing concern in the s was with problems in Gaul and Iberiamainly with the Bagaudae. He settled the Alans around Valence in and along the Loire including Aurelianum in to contain unrest in Armorica. In Spain, Aetius was slowly losing his grip on the situation. He was recalled and Merobaudes defeated the Bagaudae of Aracellitanus in In the Romans had the Vandals attack Turonium in Gallaeciafollowed by Vitus who campaigned with a combined force of Romans and Goths inbut was ultimately defeated.

The Bagaudae in Armorica revolted again in orand were put down by the Alans of Goar. As a result, the leader of the revolt Eudoxius fled to the court of Attila the Hun. The Suebi also entered Tarraconensis to assist Basilius and his revolt. In Majorian defeated a Frankish siege of Turonumwhich was followed by a Frankish attack under Clodio in the region of Atrebatumin Belgica Secunda.

In Chlodio died, and the patricius supported his younger son Merovaeus's claim to the throne. Aetius adopted him as his own son and sent him from Rome, where he had been an ambassador, to the Frankish court with many presents. Before Aetius had signed an agreement with the Hunsallowing some of them to settle in Pannoniaalong the Sava River ; he also sent to Attilathe king of the Huns, a man called Constantius as a secretary.

InAttila was angry over an alleged theft of a golden plate, and Aetius sent him an embassy under Romulus to calm him; Attila sent him a dwarf, Zercoas a present, whom Aetius gave back to his original owner, Aspar. However, the good terms between Romans and Huns did not last, as Attila wanted to attack Roman Gaul ; he knew that Aetius was a serious obstacle to his enterprise, and tried to have him removed, but inwhen the Huns attacked, Aetius was still the commander of the Roman army in Gaul.

Aetius, with the help of the influential Gallo-Roman senator Avitusconvinced the Visigoths of king Theodoric I to join him against the external menace; he also succeeded in persuading Sambida who was falsely accused of planning to join the Hunsthe Armoricans, the Salian Franks, some of the Saxons, and the Burgundians of Sapaudia to join his forces.

Then the joint Roman and Visigothic army moved to relieve the besieged city of Aurelianum, forcing the Huns to abandon the siege and retreat to open country. Attila returned in to again press his claim of marriage to Honoria ; Aetius was unable to flavius aetius biography definition Attila's advance through the Julian Alps. Instead, he chose to garrison Aquileia against Attila's onslaught.

Valentinian III fled from the court at Ravenna to Rome; Aetius remained in the field but lacked the strength to offer battle, instead positioning his army at Bononia to block the roads through the Apennines to Ravenna and Rome. Attila finally halted at the Powhere he met an embassy including the prefect Trygetius, the ex- consul Gennadius Avienusand Pope Leo I.

In the yearshe defeated Alans and Franks in Gaul. In exchange for his military merits, there was erected a monument in Rome in CE. In the 50s, Gaul and Aetius stationed there came with news of what Attila began to do with the areas subordinated to the Western Empire — he burned and destroyed villages, desperately seeking new resources. Thanks to friendly contacts, Aetius tried to convince Attila to retreat, but the Huns leader refused.

This time the Visigoths stood up on the call of Aetius, and he had to defeat his friend. Three huge armies — Roman, Visigothic and Hunnian — clashed in one of the largest and bloodiest battles of antiquity. Despite great losses, Aetius managed to defeat the Huns and drive them from Gaul. He won but allowed them to escape, citing his old friendship with Attila.

It is also believed that Aetius really wanted to maintain a counterweight in the Goths region. According to ancient sources, many were killed in this battle; the authors provide numbers: orvictims. Defeating the Huns in battle did not mean that their attacks would cease. The fights continued, e. Huns managed to include destroy Milan or Ticinum; However, due to the aggression of the Eastern Roman emperor — Marcian, they had to retreat.

Aetius spent the last years of his life in apparent glory on court intrigues.

Flavius aetius biography definition

He decided to surrender his son, Gaudentius, for the imperial daughter, Placidia. Perhaps Aetius was hoping that after the death of the ruler, his son would take over. When Aetius informed about the state of the treasury, suddenly the emperor rose from the throne and began to accuse Aetius of accusations of acting against him. You could not be signed in, please check and try again.