Ricimer was a Romanized Germanic general, who ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 456 after defeating Avitus, until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he contested power with Procopius Anthemius. Deriving his power from his position as magister militum of the Western Empire, Ricimer exercised political control through a series of puppet emperors. Ricimer's death led to unrest across Italy and the establishment of a Germanic kingdom on the Italian Peninsula.
Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Roman Empire
Ricimer was a Romanized Germanic general, who ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 456 after defeating Avitus, until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he...
Historical Significance
Ricimer was a Romanized Germanic general, who ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 456 after defeating Avitus, until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he contested power with Procopius Anthemius.
Events Before
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoth forces defeat Attila the Hun in northeast France, halting the Hun i
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoth forces defeat Attila the Hun in northeast France, halting the Hun invasion of Roman Gaul [exact date disputed]
Attila the Hun invades Italy
Attila ( ə-TIL-ə or AT-il-ə; c. 406 – 453), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in early 453.
King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome, looting continues for 14 days
King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome, looting continues for 14 days
Roman senator Petronius Maximus proclaimed Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler and monarchical head of state of the Roman Empire, starting with the granting of the title augustus to Octavian in 27 BC.
Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed emperor of the Western Roman Empire
In modern historiography, the Western Roman Empire was the Roman Empire's western provinces collectively during any period in which they were administered separately from the eastern provinces by a...
Events After
Leo I crowned Eastern Roman Emperor, 1st to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople
Leo I crowned Eastern Roman Emperor, 1st to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople
Roman armies proclaim Majorian Emperor of the Western Roman Empire
In modern historiography, the Western Roman Empire was the Roman Empire's western provinces collectively during any period in which they were administered separately from the eastern provinces by a...
K'an Ak (Precious Peccary) ascends to the throne of the Maya city of Tikal as its twelfth ruler, succeeding his father S
K'an Ak (Precious Peccary) ascends to the throne of the Maya city of Tikal as its twelfth ruler, succeeding his father Sihyaj Chan K'awiil (Stormy Sky) [1]
St Hilary begins his reign as Catholic Pope
St Hilary begins his reign as Catholic Pope
Possible start of the first Byzantine indiction cycle
Possible start of the first Byzantine indiction cycle
More from the 450s
King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome, looting continues for 14 days
King Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome, looting continues for 14 days
Attila the Hun invades Italy
Attila ( ə-TIL-ə or AT-il-ə; c. 406 – 453), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in early 453.
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoth forces defeat Attila the Hun in northeast France, halting the Hun i
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Roman and Visigoth forces defeat Attila the Hun in northeast France, halting the Hun invasion of Roman Gaul [exact date disputed]
Leo I crowned Eastern Roman Emperor, 1st to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople
Leo I crowned Eastern Roman Emperor, 1st to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on October 16, 456?
- Ricimer was a Romanized Germanic general, who ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 456 after defeating Avitus, until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he contested power with Procopius Anthemius. Deriving his power from his position as magister militum of the Western Empire, Ricimer exercised political control through a series of puppet emperors. Ricimer's death led to unrest across Italy and the establishment of a Germanic kingdom on the Italian Peninsula.
- Why is Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes m... significant?
- Ricimer was a Romanized Germanic general, who ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 456 after defeating Avitus, until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he contested power with Procopius Anthemius.