In memory of Flavius Aetius, the Last Roman, who taight, fought, - TopicsExpress



          

In memory of Flavius Aetius, the Last Roman, who taight, fought, and may have killed Attila, and who was assassinated on this day MCCVII AUC, The Emporer Valentinian felt intimidated by Aetius, who had once supported his mother against him and who, Valentinian believed, wanted to place his son upon the imperial throne. The Roman senator Petronius Maximus and the chamberlain Heraclius were therefore able to enlist Valentinian in a plot to assassinate Aetius. On September 21, MCCVII AUC, when at court in Ravenna delivering a financial account, Aetius was slain by Valentinians own hand. Edward Gibbon credits Sidonius Apollinaris with the famous observation, I am ignorant, sir, of your motives or provocations; I only know that you have acted like a man who has cut off his right hand with his left. Maximus expected to be made patrician in place of Aetius, but was blocked by Heraclius. Seeking revenge, Maximus arranged with two Hun friends of Aetius, Optila and Thraustila, to assassinate both Valentinian III and Heraclius. On March 16, MCCVIII AUC, Optila stabbed the emperor in the temple as he dismounted in the Campus Martius and prepared for a session of archery practice. As the stunned emperor turned to see who had struck him, Optila finished him off with another thrust of his blade. Meanwhile, Thraustila stepped forward and killed Heraclius. Most of the soldiers standing close by had been faithful followers of Aetius and none lifted a hand to save the emperor. youtube/watch?v=60Uq2hUKuGE
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 22:13:16 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015