The Emergence of Europe (286-843) Part IV: The Emperor Finds a New Generalissimo

A series of civil wars and repeated invasions by Germanic tribes caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Following the end of imperial authority, several Germanic tribes struggled against each other for control of territory. The Franks became the dominant power in Gaul, but Greater Frankia repeatedly broke apart during wars between rival claimants for the throne. Finally, Charlemagne united the Franks, and greatly expanded the size of the kingdom. However, his grandsons proved unwilling to share the empire, and divided it in 843, laying the foundations for France and Germany. Episode Four explains that Constantius convinced the Goths to deal with the Vandals and the Alans in Hispania. The generalissimo then married Galla Placidia, the half-sister of the emperor, and they had a son named Valentinian, but Constantius died a year later. The search for a new generalissimo had barely started when Honorius died, leaving Placidia's son Valentinian the natural successor.

 

Cast of Characters:

Honorius-emperor of the Western Empire (395-423)

Constantius-co-emperor (421), formerly generalissimo under Emperor Honorius

Galla Placidia-empress to Emperor Constantius III, formerly queen to Athaulf, king of the Visigoths, daughter of Emperor Theodosius I, half-sister of Emperor Honorius

Valentinian-son of Constantius and Galla Placidia

Athaulf-king of the Visigoths (411-415)

Wallia-king of the Visigoths (415-418)

Theodoric I-king of the Visigoths (418-451)

Constantine III-usurper/emperor of the Western Roman Empire (407-411), former Roman geeeral in Britain

Gerontius-key general of Constantine III

Constans-son of Constantine III

Jovinus-usuper/emperor of the Western Roman Empire (411-413), former Gallic-Roman senator

Castinus-generalissimo of the Western Roman Empire (423-425)

John-emperor of the Western Roman Empire (423-425)

Boniface-governor of North Africa (423-432)

 

Sources:

Christendom: The Triumph of a Religion-Peter Heather

Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West 376-568-Guy Halsall

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians-Peter Heather

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages-Dan Jones

The Franks-Edward James

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization-Lars Brownsworth

Byzantium: The Early Centuries-John Julius Norwich

Empires of Faith: The Fall of Rome to the Rise of Islam, 500-700-Peter Sarris

Visigothic Spain 409-711-Roger Collins

History of the Goths-Herwig Wolfram, translated by Thomas J. Dunlap

The Makers of Scotland: Picts, Romans, Gaels and Vikings-Tim Clarkson

 

Image Credit

By Unknown author - [1] 'Grandes Chroniques de France, Mandragore, BNF, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=723625