Ricimer
Ricimer | |
|---|---|
Seal of Ricimer. The inscription reads RICIMER VINCAS ("Ricimer, may you conquer") around it. | |
| Born | c. 418 |
| Died | 19 August 472 (aged c. 54) |
| Allegiance | Western Roman Empire |
| Branch | Roman army |
| Years of service | ?–472 |
| Rank | Magister militum (de facto military dictator of the Western Roman Empire from 461) |
| Battles / wars | |
Ricimer (/ˈrɪsɪmər/ RISS-im-ər, Latin: [ˈrɪkɪmɛr]; c. 418 – 19 August 472) 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.