Life Marcellinus (magister militum)

1 life

1.1 origins
1.2 military career
1.3 death

life
origins

marcellinus said have been of birth , character , had education, devout pagan, , alleged have been skilled soothsayer. patron of culture , friend of philosopher sallustius.

nothing known of marcellinus in life; records first mention name in 454 when rebelled against western emperor valentinian iii following murder , assassination of flavius aëtius friend. in dalmatia @ time , believed have held title of comes rei militaris according fasti. powerful enough seize control of dalmatia himself , presumably able because commander of troops there. appears have remained ruler of dalmatia down 468 , have preserved independence except briefly accepting authority of emperors majorian , anthemius. sources claim ruled justly , , kept dalmatia independent of emperor , of barbarian rulers.

military career

during dying days of western half of empire there remained 4 main players participated in power games revolving around throne; eastern roman empire 1 continued play significant political role did western roman military made other three. gallic army prominent, under aegidius in 460 s, italian army main influence ricimer, , forces of dalmatia gave solid base of power , support between 450 , 480 marcellinus , later nephew western emperor julius nepos

when majorian took throne in december 457 marcellinus pledged allegiance new emperor , sent guard sicily against vandals; perhaps @ time held title of magister militum. marcellinus take part in joint attack of vandal africa, him coming sicily , majorian invading spain, before majorian begin campaign vandals inflicted severe defeat on attack fleet , year later in 461 emperor murdered ricimer, after tried bribe marcellinus troops huns, attempting reduce generals power. forced marcellinus leave sicily , return dalmatia work closely eastern emperor leo i. in 464 or 465 marcellinus returned sicily defend island against vandals, action posed direct threat personal power , prestige of ricimer had appealed leo prevent marcellinus acting against him militarily. leo recognized marcellinus magister militum not ricimer , new puppet emperor libius severus in west. title seems have changed around time of magister militum dalmatiae though not certain, nephew took on him after held title. during time power seems have grown , possible attack italy, @ request of italians, eastern court sent envoy him , agreed not attack.

in spring of 467 1 of comites accompanied new emperor of west, anthemius, italy large army. in 468 see him title of patrician given him anthemius. explaining needs said here, since @ time ricimer still held magister utriusque militum , patrician according fasti, , appears atheminus wished marcellinus have similar power held ricimer in order counterbalance him. in east, established practice both magistri militum praesentales equal in west had become common 1 magister, (usually magister peditum), superior on other , may have been attempt anthemius introduce eastern structure , rule eastern emperor using successful , trustworthy marcellinus second commander.

death

in 468, leo organized grand campaign against vandals in africa in east , west commit substantial forces. marcellinus given command of forces western empire , campaign three-pronged assault. marcellinus time had expelled vandals sicily , had retaken sardinia , taken fleet africa. basiliscus, leo s brother-in-law, main army in armada of on 1,000 ships land @ distance carthage , link comes rei militis heraclius advancing egypt , tripolitana. marcellinus supposed have command of 10,000 20,000 troops. marcellinus never sailed africa, perhaps due ricimer s veto; either not spare many troops become bogged in campaign in africa hoping east job him, or resented military capabilities of marcellinus favorite of anthemius. regardless of reason, marcellinus, not able participate in campaign , basiliscus blundering in battle of cape bon, assured operation result in failure , west lost chance regain africa vandals , possibly stave off demise.

marcellinus murdered in sicily same year, possibly ricimer s order. after death, nephew, julius nepos inherited uncle s control on dalmatia , recorded having title magister militum dalmatiae. dalmatia serve julius nepos in same fashion had marcellinus , due prestige , ability of julius nepos, eastern emperor leo push him new western emperor in 474.