Flavius aetius biography
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Was Flavius Aetius “Last of the Romans”?
Flavius Aetius was one of the most fascinating characters in the Roman Empire’s history. A general, a politician and a statesman, Aetius struggled to defend the Roman West against numerous threats, external and internal. His most famous triumph was over no one other than Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons. No wonder many consider him the “Last of the Romans,” as the Western Roman Empire ceased to exist a few decades after Aetius’ assassination. Yet, unbeknownst to most, Aetius facilitated the fall of the Roman West and played a major role in eroding the power and prestige of the emperor and imperial dynasty.
Flavius Aetius was born around CE in the Roman frontier town of Durostorum, now Silistra, on the Bulgarian side of the Danube. Aetius’ father, Gaudentius, was a high-ranking officer under emperor Honorius. Almost nothing is known of Aetius’ youth except that the boy followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an officer in the Roman army. This was usual for the period, as military service in the Late Roman Empire was hereditary duty, and it was the easiest way for an ambitious man to climb to the very top of the imperial hierarchy.
Aetius Was a Hostage During His Youth
The early fifth century was a turbule
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Roman General Flavius Aetius
By Cast S. Longo
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Who was Flavius Aetius and What Did He Do?
While Aetius was victorious at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains &#; with one historian writing that it ‘embodied the triumph of order over the forces of chaos’ &#; Attila’s army nevertheless invaded Italy the following year. While Rome lacked the military forces to oppose them, other factors led the Hunnic leader to withdraw, possibly due to disease within his army or lack of supplies.
After Attila died, Rome enjoyed a short respite and Aetius tried to rebuild the army. However, within the Empire itself Aetius still had many enemies and they were baying for blood.
The future Roman emperor Petronius Maximus, a eunuch called Heraclius and Valentinian III were jealous of the power wielded by General Aetius, and the latter summoned him to a meeting at the imperial palace.
Protocol suggested that meetings were taken unarmed and alone. During his life, Flavius Aetius didn’t make many mistakes but this was his biggest. As he entered the room in September AD, Valentinian drew his sword and killed him.
Killing a general so loved by the population and the army was, ironically, Valentinian’s undoing. He and Heraclius were killed by Maximus with Valentinian’s guards watching on. They too were disgusted their emperor had killed their gene