Glycerius

• Glycerius (473-474 CE) was the third last Roman Emperor in the West.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

• NAME:
  • Flavius Glycerius
• GLYCERIUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
  • From 3 March 473 CE to June 474 CE.
  • Co-Emperor with Leo I in the East.
  • Co-Emperor with Leo II in the East.
• GLYCERIUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born c.420 CE. Died c.480 CE.
• PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Place of birth unknown. Probably died at Salona.
• GLYCERIUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • Olybrius
• GLYCERIUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • Julius Nepos
• HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
  • Proclaimed Emperor by the Magister Militum Gundobad.
• DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • Ousted by Julius Nepos,
• WHERE BURIED:
  • Unknown.
• GLYCERIUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
  • Glycerius was the third last Emperor of the West.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

• Glycerius was a Commander in Dalmatia, before becoming Commander of the Imperial Guard in Ravenna.
• In 473 CE, Glycerius defeated King Euric and his Visigoths when they tried to invade Italia, but instead the Visigoths conquered Arles and Marseille in Gaul.
• King Widimir and the Ostrogoths also prepared to invade Italia, but were bribed to cancel their attack.
• In 473 CE, Leo I, the Eastern Emperor, finally chose Julius Nepos, the Magister Militum in Dalmatia, to become the Western Emperor.
• In July 474 CE, a fleet brought Julius Nepos to Portus, and Glycerius was deposed without conflict. Instead, Julius Nepos made Glycerius Bishop of Salona, where he probably died.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • Jordanes
  • Ennodius: Biography of Saint Epiphianius