The Collapse

Period Overview

Emperor Romulus Augustus

Emperor Romulus Augustus

Life: c. 465 – after 511? Romulus Augustus was the son of Orestes who once had been an assistant to Attila the Hun, and who had at times been sent …

Read More

Julius Nepos coin

Emperor Julius Nepos

Life: AD ? – 480 Became emperor June AD 474. Died 9 May in Dalmatia AD 480. Julius Nepos was the son of Nepotianus, who had been ‘Master of Soldiers’ …

Read More

emperor glycerius

Emperor Glycerius

Life: AD ? – After 480? Following the death of Olybrius there was a period of about four months during which there was no emperor in the west, sole rule …

Read More

Anicius Olybrius coin

Emperor Olybrius

Life: AD ? – 472 Name: Anicius Olybrius Became emperor March/April AD 472. Wife: Placidia (one daughter; Juliana Anicia). Died November AD 472. Olybrius was a member of the highly …

Read More

Anthemius

Emperor Anthemius

Life: AD ? – 472 Early Life Anthemius was born in Galatia and came from a wealthy, distinguished, and highly influential family in the eastern empire, a recent ancestor of …

Read More

Libius Severus coin

Emperor Libius Severus

Life: AD ? – 465 Became emperor AD 461. Died on 14 November AD 465 at Dertona. After the death of Majorian there followed a period of over three months …

Read More

emperor majorian

Emperor Majorian

Life: AD ? – 461 Early Life Little is known of Majorian’s beginnings, although he undoubtedly came from a high-standing family. His maternal grandfather had served Theodosius I as ‘Master …

Read More

Emperor Avitus

Emperor Avitus

Life: AD ? – 455 Avitus was the son of a rich and distinguished family from the Arvernian region in Gaul. He first had studied law but soon dedicated himself …

Read More

Flavius Petronius Maximus coin

Emperor Petronius Maximus

Life: AD c. 396 – 455 Name: Flavius Petronius Maximus Born in AD ca. 396. Became emperor March AD 455. Died at Rome, 31 May AD 455. Petronius Maximus was …

Read More

Flavius Placidus Valentinianus - "Valentinian III" coin

Emperor Valentinian III

Life: AD 419 – 455 Valentinian III was born in AD 419, the son of Constantius III and Aelia Galla Placidia, who was the half-sister of Honorius. With Honorius having …

Read More

emperor john

Emperor John

Life: AD ? – 425 Emperor John sounds like he could be any one of a number of historical or fictional rulers, given the commonality of the name “John” across …

Read More

Flavius Constantius - "Constantius III" coin

Emperor Constantius III

Life: AD ? – 421 Name: Flavius Constantius Born in Naissus, birthdate unknown. Wife: Aelia Galla Placidia (one son; Flavius Valentinianus; one daughter; Justa Grata Honoria). Became emperor in AD …

Read More

Flavius Claudius Constantinus - "Constantine III" coin

Emperor Constantine III

Life: AD ? – 411 Name: Flavius Claudius Constantinus Birthdate unknown. Became emperor in AD 407. Died outside Ravenna, AD 411. Nothing is known of Constantine III’s birth lace or …

Read More

Flavius Honorius Bust

Emperor Honorius

Life: AD 383 – 423 Early Life of Honorius Honorius was the second son of Theodosius the Great and Aelia Flavia Flaccilla and was born in AD 383. In AD …

Read More