Flavius Aetius or simply Aetius, (c. 396–454), was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. Along with his rival Count Boniface, he has often been called "the last of the Romans". Edward Gibbon refers to him as "the man universally celebrated as the terror of Barbarians and the support of the Republic" for his victory over Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons, though it has been argued that this battle had no victor. Events Emperor An succeeds Emperor Xiaowu as ruler of the Chinese Jin Dynasty Augustine appointed bishop of Hippo in North Africa End of the Visigoth invasion in Greece. ... Events September 21 - Roman Emperor Valentinian III assassinates Aëtius in his own throne room. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus The Western Roman Empire in 395. ... Count Boniface (in Latin, Comes Bonifacius) (d. ... The Last of the Romans is a term that has been applied to various people: Gaius Asinius Pollio, one of the last great orators and writers of the Roman Republic, is sometimes referred to as such. ... Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... barbarians is a mini-series on the history channel which tells the story of four of the most barbariac tribes of the early and late middle ages. ... Attila (AD 406 - 453), also known as Attila the Hun was Khan of the Hun people from 434 until his death and leader of the Hunnic Empire. ... Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alani Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Burgundians Commanders Flavius Aëtius, Theodoric†, Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 At the Battle of Chalons (also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of Campus Mauriacus) in 451, a...

Early years

Aëtius was born at Durostorum in Moesia (modern Silistra, Bulgaria), in the late 4th century. He was the son of an Italian mother Aurelia and a Scythian father Flavius Gaudentius,^[1][2][3][4] though Jordanes, in his Getica, claimed his father Gaudentius to be of Gothic stock. He rose in the service of the Western empire to be master of the horse, and later count of Africa. Aëtius passed some years as a hostage, first with Alaric and the Goths (probably 405–408), and later in the camp of Rugila, king of the Huns. Gibbon and some other historians maintain that Aëtius's upbringing among vigorous and warlike peoples such as the Huns gave him a martial vigour lacking in Rome itself at that period. Certainly he learned every trick the Huns themselves utilized in battle, and he used that knowledge well in his conflicts with Attila. Moesia (Greek: , Moisia; Bulgarian: Мизия, Miziya; Serbian: Мезија, Mezija) is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ... Silistra (Bulgarian: , historically Bulgarian Дръстър (Drastar, ) and Romanian Dârstor) is a port city of northeastern Bulgaria, lying on the southern side of the lower Danube at the countrys border with Romania. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... The Scythians (also Scyths, from Greek ), a nation of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who spoke an Iranian language[1], dominated the Pontic steppe throughout Classical Antiquity. ... Flavius Gaudentius or simply Gaudentius was the father of the Roman magister militum Flavius Aetius. ... Modern Istanbul, site of ancient Constantinople, capital of the eastern Roman Empire, where Jordanes was being detained when he wrote Getica. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... The Master of the Horse was (and in some cases, is) a historical position of varying importance in several European nations. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... An 1894 photogravure of Alaric I taken from a painting by Ludwig Thiersch. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... It has been suggested that Ruga be merged into this article or section. ... The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads. ...

Aëtius, Boniface and Placidia

In 425, Aëtius led an army of Huns into Italy. He first moved to support Joannes, who had proclaimed himself emperor, but his arrival in Ravenna came three days after Joannes' defeat and execution. With his large force of Huns, Aëtius was able to secure a pardon and obtain the office of Magister militum per Gallias (or Master of Soldiers in Gaul) from Galla Placidia, the empress-mother and regent for Valentinian III. Events October 23 -Valentinian III becomes western Roman emperor. ... Joannes, Roman Emperor (423 - 425) On the death of the Emperor Honorius (August 27, 423), Theodosius II, the remaining ruler of the House of Theodosius hesitated for some time in announcing his uncles death and in the interregum Honorius patrician at the time of his death, Castinus, elevated Joannes... Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... Magister militum (Latin for Master of the Soldiers) was a top-level command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given,in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Portrait of Galla Placidia, from her mausoleum in Ravenna. ... Solidus minted in Thessalonica to celebrate the marriage of Valentinian III to Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of the Eastern Emperor Theodosius II. On the reverse, the three of them in wedding dresses. ...

In Gaul, Aëtius defeated the Visigoths at Arles, forcing them to return to Aquitaine. He then proceeded to reinforce the Rhine frontier and defend Noricum against German attacks. Meanwhile, in Africa, Count Boniface fell into disfavour with Placidia, perhaps partly due to the intrigues of Aëtius and other Roman generals. Migrations The Visigoths (Western Goths) were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe (the Ostrogoths being the other). ... Coordinates Administration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (Subprefecture) Arrondissement Arles Canton Chief town of 2 cantons: Arles-Est and Arles-Ouest Intercommunality Agglomeration community of Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette Mayor Hervé Schiavetti  (PS) (2001-2008) Statistics Altitude 0 m–57 m... (Region flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital Regional President Departments Dordogne Gironde Landes Lot-et-Garonne Pyrénées-Atlantiques Arrondissements 18 Cantons 235 Communes 2,296 Statistics Land area1 41,308 km² Population (Ranked 6th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... It has been suggested that River Rhine Pollution: November 1986 be merged into this article or section. ... Noricum in ancient geography was a celtic kingdom in Austria and later a province of the Roman Empire. ... Count Boniface (in Latin, Comes Bonifacius) (d. ...

Boniface was eventually returned to favour by Placidia, not before revolting in Africa and calling in the Vandals. In 432, Boniface was recalled to Italy and given the rank of patrician. Aëtius, believing that Placidia had decided to get rid of him, marched against Boniface and fought against him in a battle near Rimini. Boniface won the battle tactically but was mortally wounded and died a few months later. Aëtius escaped to Dalmatia, and, with the help of the Huns (for which they were rewarded with territory in Pannonia), was restored to power by Placidia in 433. The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe which entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. ... Events July 31 - Sixtus is elected to succeed Celestine as Pope. ... This article is about the social and political class in ancient Rome. ... Rimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. ... Dalmatia, highlighted, on a map of Croatia. ... Position of the Roman province of Pannonia Pannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. ... Events Petronius Maximus becomes Roman Consul John of Antioch and Cyril of Alexandria sign the Formula of Reunion, thus ending their conflict over the Nestorian controversy and the Council of Ephesus. ...

Ascendancy

From 433 to 450, Aëtius was the dominant personality in the Western empire. He continued to devote his attention to Gaul after his restoration to power. In 436 the Burgundians, taking advantage of disturbances caused by Bagaudae (bands of rebellious peasants, slaves and bandits), tried to seize more territory. Aëtius responded by calling in the Huns to intervene, and 20,000 Burgundians were killed in a slaughter which became the basis of the Nibelungenlied, a German epic. In 443 Aëtius settled the remaining Burgundians in Savoy, south of Lake Geneva. His most pressing concern in the 440s was with problems in Gaul and Spain, mainly with the Bagaudae. He settled Alans around Valence and Orleans to control unrest around Brittany. Events Petronius Maximus becomes Roman Consul John of Antioch and Cyril of Alexandria sign the Formula of Reunion, thus ending their conflict over the Nestorian controversy and the Council of Ephesus. ... Events August 25 - Marcian proclaimed Eastern Roman Emperor by Aspar and Pulcheria. ... Events Attila the Hun attacks Britain Births Deaths Categories: 436 ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Bagaudae (also spelled Bacaudae) was the name for groups of peasant insurgents during the Crisis of the Third Century, particularly in Gaul. ... Many historians consider the Huns (meaning person in Mongolian language) the first Mongolian and Turkic people mentioned in European history. ... The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... The epic is a broadly defined genre of narrative poetry, characterized by great length, multiple settings, large numbers of characters, or long span of time involved. ... Events The Burgundians create a kingdom on the banks of the Rhone Attila destroys Naissus. ... Flag of Savoy This article is about the historical region of Savoy. ... Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French Lac Léman, le Léman, or Lac de Genève) is the second largest freshwater lake in Central Europe (after Lake Balaton). ... Armorica rebels against the Roman empire. ... The Alans, Alani, Alauni or Halani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied backgrounds, who spoke an Iranian language and to a large extent shared a common culture. ... Valence is a commune in south-eastern France, the capital of the département of Drôme, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, 65 miles south of Lyon on the railway to Marseille. ... This article is about Orléans, France; for other meanings see Orleans (disambiguation). ... Historical province of Brittany, showing the main areas with their name in Breton language The traditional flag of Brittany (the Gwenn-ha-du), formerly a Breton nationalist symbol but today used as a general civic flag in the region. ...

The general probable path of the Hun forces in their invasion of Gaul, 451 CE, leading up to the Battle of Chalons.

In 451 a large army of Huns,^[5] led by Attila, invaded Gaul and captured several cities, and proceeded towards Orleans. One of the great achievements of military history was the assembling of the coalition against Attila. Arthur Ferrill, addressing this issue, says Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... “Era Vulgaris” redirects here. ... Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alani Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Burgundians Commanders Flavius Aëtius, Theodoric†, Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 At the Battle of Chalons (also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of Campus Mauriacus) in 451, a... Events April 7 - The Huns sack Metz June 20 - Attila, king of the Huns is defeated at Troyes by Aëtius in the Battle of Chalons. ... For other uses, see Attila (disambiguation). ...

"After he secured the Rhine, Attila moved into central Gaul and put Orléans under siege. Had he gained his objective, he would have been in a strong position to subdue the Visigoths in Aquitaine, but Aetius had put together a formidable coalition against the Hun. Working frenetically, the Roman leader had built a powerful alliance of Visigoths, Alans and Burgundians, uniting them with their traditional enemy, the Romans, for the defense of Gaul. Even though all parties to the protection of the Western Roman Empire had a common hatred of the Huns, it was still a remarkable achievement on Aetius' part to have drawn them into an effective military relationship."[1]

When the Alans living in the region were ready to defect to Attila, Aëtius and the Visigothic king Theodoric I moved in to relieve the besieged city of Orleans. The Huns abandoned the siege and retreated to open country, where, on September 20, 451 (some sources place the date at June 20, 451^[6]), they and their allies battled the Romans and Visigoths, along with their Alan, Frankish, and Burgundian allies, on the Catalaunian Fields near Châlons-en-Champagne. Although tactically the outcome of the Battle of Chalons was indecisive, it was a great triumph for Aëtius and the Romans. Attila was forced to retreat beyond the Rhine(because of winter) and threatened Gaul again next year, though he returned once more to Italy. Orléans (Latin, meaning golden) is a city and commune in north-central France, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Paris. ... Migrations The Visigoths (Western Goths) were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe (the Ostrogoths being the other). ... Theodoric I, sometimes called Theodorid and in Spanish Teodorico, was the King of the Visigoths from 419–451. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events April 7 - The Huns sack Metz June 20 - Attila, king of the Huns is defeated at Troyes by Aëtius in the Battle of Chalons. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events April 7 - The Huns sack Metz June 20 - Attila, king of the Huns is defeated at Troyes by Aëtius in the Battle of Chalons. ... The Frankish Empire was the territory of the Franks, from the 5th to the 10th centuries, from 481 ruled by Clovis I of the Merovingian Dynasty, the first king of all the Franks. ... Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alans Huns, Ostrogoths Commanders Flavius Aetius Theodoric Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 The Battle of Chalons, also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of the Catalun, took place in 451 between the allied... Châlons-en-Champagne is a city and commune in France. ... Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alani Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Burgundians Commanders Flavius Aëtius, Theodoric†, Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 At the Battle of Chalons (also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of Campus Mauriacus) in 451, a... It has been suggested that River Rhine Pollution: November 1986 be merged into this article or section. ...

Attila returned in 452 to again press his claim of marriage to Honoria, invading and ravaging Italy along the way; his army sacked numerous cities and razed Aquileia completely, leaving no trace of it behind. Valentinian fled from Ravenna to Rome; Aetius remained in the field but lacked the strength to offer battle. Gibbon however says Aetius never showed his greatness more clearly in managing to harass and slow Attila's advance with only a shadow force. Attila finally halted at the Po, where he met an embassy including the prefect Trigetius, the consul Aviennus, and Pope Leo I. After the meeting he turned his army back, having claimed neither Honoria's hand nor the territories he desired. Honoria crowned Augusta by the hand of God. ... Aquileia (Friulian Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman town of Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso (modern Natisone), the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times. ... Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... PO may stand for: Pareto optimality Parole Officer Per os, Latin for by mouth or orally Perfect Orange a third wave ska based in Knoxville, TN from 2002-2005 Petty Officer, a Non-Commissioned Officer Rank in many Navies Pilkington Optronics, now Thales Optronics Pilot Officer, a junior commissioned rank... A prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: make in front, i. ... Consul (abbrev. ... Pope Leo I or Leo the Great, was pope of Rome from September 29, 440 to November 10, 461) He was a Roman aristocrat and the first Pope to whom the title the Great. ...

Assassination

Although in 453 Aëtius had been able to betroth his son Gaudentius to Valentinian's daughter Placidia, Valentinian felt intimidated by Aëtius, who had once supported Joannes against him and whom Valentinian believed wanted to place his son upon the imperial throne. The Roman senator Petronius Maximus and the chamberlain Heraclius were therefore able to enlist Valentinian in a plot to assassinate Aëtius. On September 21, 454, when at court in Ravenna delivering a financial account, Aëtius was slain by Valentinian's own hand. Edward Gibbon credits Sidonius Apollinaris with the famous observation, "I am ignorant, sir, of your motives or provocations; I only know that you have acted like a man who has cut off his right hand with his left" (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ch. 35). Solidus minted in Thessalonica to celebrate the marriage of Valentinian III to Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of the Eastern Emperor Theodosius II. On the reverse, the three of them in wedding dresses. ... Petronius Maximus on a coin. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events September 21 - Roman Emperor Valentinian III assassinates Aëtius in his own throne room. ... Ravenna is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... Gaius Sollius Modestus Sidonius Apollinaris (c. ...

Maximus expected to be made patrician in place of Aëtius, but was blocked by Heraclius. Seeking revenge, Maximus arranged with two Hun friends of Aëtius, Optila and Thraustila, to assassinate both Valentinian III and Heraclius. On March 16, 455, Optila stabbed the emperor in the temple as he dismounted in the Campus Martius and prepared for a session of archery practice. As the stunned emperor turned to see who had struck him, Optila finished him off with another thrust of his blade. Meanwhile, Thraustila stepped forward and killed Heraclius. Most of the soldiers standing close by had been faithful followers of Aëtius and none lifted a hand to save the emperor. Heraclius or Herakleios or (Latin: ; Greek: , HÄ“rakleios), (c. ... Solidus minted in Thessalonica to celebrate the marriage of Valentinian III to Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of the Eastern Emperor Theodosius II. On the reverse, the three of them in wedding dresses. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 16 - Valentinian III is murdered by former soldiers of Aëtius in revenge for Valentinians killing of Aëtius the previous year. ...

Military legacy

Aëtius is universally viewed as a great military commander. Most historians consider the Battle of Chalons as of decisive importance, having crippled Attila by destroying his aura of invincibility. Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alani Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Burgundians Commanders Flavius Aëtius, Theodoric†, Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 At the Battle of Chalons (also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of Campus Mauriacus) in 451, a...

J. B. Bury, however, considers that Chalons was not particularly decisive. He argues that Aëtius attacked the Huns when they were already retreating from Orleans, so Gaul was not in immediate danger; and he declined to renew the attack on the next day, to preserve the balance of power. Then again, the Huns may have abandoned the siege of Orleans precisely Aëtius's armies were advancing on them. John Bagnell Bury (16 October 1861 – 1 June 1927) was an eminent British historian, classical scholar, and philologist. ... This article is about Orléans, France; for other meanings see Orleans (disambiguation). ...

In Bury's view, the Battle of Nedao, three years later, was more important. The Germans rose up against the Huns after Attila's death, and defeated them at Nedao, in 454. This determined that there would be no Hunnic Empire, which Bury thinks would have been unlikely even if they had crushed the Germans that time. For Bury, Chalons determined chiefly whether Attila spent his last year looting Gaul or Italy. The Battle of Nedao, the Nedava, a tributary of the Sava, was a battle fought in Pannonia in 454. ... Events September 21 - Roman Emperor Valentinian III assassinates Aëtius in his own throne room. ...

Bury's view remains in the minority, and Chalons is considered crucial by virtually every other major historian. What is more, Bury does not challenge the majority view that Aëtius was a major historical figure, who singlehandedly held up the dying Empire for three decades. As to Chalons, Gibbon states the majority view quite eloquently:

"(Attila's) retreat across the Rhine confessed the last victory which was achieved in the name of the Western Roman Empire."^[1].

John Julius Norwich also strongly disagrees with Bury, as does William E. Watson, Sir Edward Creasy, and Poke, saying that "the entire fate of western civilization hung in the balance" in the campaigns of Attila, and that Chalons was a pivotal turning point in history. He also caustically referred to the assassination of Valentinian by his own guards as an act he brought on himself by his foolish execution of Aëtius, the "Empire's greatest commander."^[7] Certainly Aëtius military legacy is defined by Chalons, even though he effectively ruled the western empire from 433-450, and attempted to stabilize the European borders under a deluge of barbarians, including foremost, Atilla and his the Huns. John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich CVO (born 15 September 1929) is an English historian, travel writer and television personality known as John Julius Norwich. ... William E. Watson is a historian who works for the nonprofit organization De Re Militari. ...

Controversial legacy

His legacy has been filled with controversy somewhat similar to that of Stilicho. The two best Roman generals of their time, both were killed by jealous emperors, and both left the Empire significantly weaker when they died. The main difference between the two was that all major historians hail Aëtius as a loyal Roman and pillar of the Empire, while Bury finds Stilicho an unwitting traitor. Unfortunately, while Stilicho was succeeded by Aëtius, the Empire simply had no one to take Aëtius's place. At the time of Aëtius's death, all the Roman provinces in western Europe had a significant barbarian presence. This had begun a full three generations earlier, when the barbarians were allowed to stay inside the Empire's borders in exchange for peace and their military service. Edward Gibbon maintains that Aëtius could not have expelled them if he had wanted to, as he lacked Roman troops to do the task, and the barbarians were the only army he had to keep the peace. Gibbon argues in great detail that Roman citizens had lost their martial vigour, with the consequence that the only troops available to Stilicho or Aëtius were mostly barbarians. [2] Stilicho (right) with his wife Serena and son Eucherius Flavius Stilicho (occasionally written as Stilico) (ca. ...

Gibbon views Aëtius in a positive light, as does Norwich, Creasy, Ferrill, and Watson. In 1980, Robert F. Pennel wrote in Ancient Rome from the Earliest Times Down to 476AD: Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

"The Empire was but a relic of its former self. Gaul, Spain, and Britain were practically lost; Illyria and Pannonia were in the hands of the Goths; and Africa was soon after seized by the barbarians. Valentinian was fortunate in the possession of AETIUS, a Scythian by birth, who for a time upheld the Roman name, winning for himself the title of LAST OF THE ROMANS. He was assassinated by his ungrateful master."[3]

Gibbon believes it was not indifference but rather preoccupation with the Huns and other barbarians that led Aëtius to neglect the navy. The subsequent loss of Africa came after Boniface invited the Vandals. Gibbon makes clear that Aëtius simply lacked the means to preserve the declining Western Empire in its entirety, while Norwich concludes that he guarded the Empire for three decades and that the after-effects of Aëtius's death lie at the feet of the Emperor who foolishly killed him. At a time when Romans did little or none of their own fighting, and no effective navy existed in the West, Aëtius had all he could do to preserve some vestige of order in continental Europe.

One could argue that later Emperors Majorian, Leo I and Anthemius saw the necessity of regaining the African provinces. Should Aëtius have concentrated his efforts on saving Africa, to the detriment of maintaining some vestige of Empire in Europe? Michael Grant in his History of Rome states flatly that Aëtius was powerless to stop the loss of Africa. Aëtius had begun to move against the Vandals when the forces he sent had to be recalled to fight Attila. Since Aëtius relied on barbarian federates, and as no other Roman General had the respect of those barbarian troops, his death left the Empire bereft of virtually any army in the west. Majorian on an bronze coin. ... Leo I coin. ... Procopius Anthemius (c. ...

It is highly notable that Bury, who does not believe the Battle of Chalons was significant, does believe Aëtius's rule in general was, saying "From the end of the regency to his own death, Aëtius was master of the Empire in the west, and it must be imputed to his policy and arms that Imperial rule did not break down in all the provinces by the middle of the fifth century."

In the end, there is some disagreement among historians as to the historical place of Aëtius. Was he the protector of Rome for three decades described by Gibbon, Norwich and Bury, the hero of Chalons described by Sir Edward Creasy, or should he be condemned for the loss of Africa, though most historians say he was powerless to stop that loss? Although Bury is cited as a critic of Aëtius, he was not, and said of Aëtius's death: "Who was now to save Italy from the Vandals?" The answer was no one. There was not one figure in the Empire able to take Aëtius's place as the champion and defender of the West. The certain thing about Aëtius's place in history is that he will forever be remembered as the last great Western Roman General, and the General who defeated the dreaded Attila the Hun. [4]

In the arts

Aëtius is the protagonist of Handel's opera Ezio. George Frideric Handel, 1733 George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer who was a leading composer of concerti grossi, operas and oratorios. ... Ezio (Aetius) is an opera by George Frideric Handel. ...

Aëtius is played by Powers Boothe in the 2001 TV Miniseries Attila. Here he is portrayed as an Anti-hero who accomplishes his goals through unorthodox methods. Aetius is portrayed as the heroic 'Last of the Romans' in William Napier's Attila trilogy (2005), uniting the Romans and the Goths in one final, titanic battle to stop the Huns in their tracks, in the epochal Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. Powers Allen Boothe (born June 1, 1948) is an American television and film actor. ... Attila (also known as Attila the Hun in the UK), takes place during the waning days of Roman Empire, the barbarian Huns are making their way toward Europe. ... In literature and film, an anti-hero is a central or supporting character that has some of the personality flaws and ultimate fortune traditionally assigned to villains but nonetheless also have enough heroic qualities or intentions to gain the sympathy of readers or viewers. ...

While he does not appear in person, Aëtius' battle with Attila is documented in detail in Jack Whyte's book "The Eagle," during a conversation between King Arthur and Seur Clothar. Jack Whyte (Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, 1939) is an author and writer born and raised in Scotland, but living in Canada since 1967. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ...

Aetius, Galla Placidia and Stilicho all appear as central characters in Jose Gomez-Rivera's historical novel "Flavius Aetius: The Last Conqueror," published in 2004.

Aëtius, Attila and Theodoric all appear in Michael Curtis Ford's fourth novel entitled "The Sword of Attila," published by Thomas Dunne Books in 2005. Michael Curtis Ford is an American historical novelist, writing novels about Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. ...

See also

• Groans of the Britons
• Battle of Chalons

The Groans of the Britons (Latin: gemitus Britannorum) is the name of the final appeal made by the post-Roman population of Britain for assistance against foreign invasion. ... Combatants Western Roman Empire, Visigoths, Alani Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Burgundians Commanders Flavius Aëtius, Theodoric†, Sangiban Attila the Hun Strength 30,000–50,000 30,000–50,000 At the Battle of Chalons (also called the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields or the Battle of Campus Mauriacus) in 451, a...

References

This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Further reading

• Cameron, Averil The Later Roman Empire (Harvard University Press 2007) ISBN 0674511948.
• Cameron, Averil The Cambridge Ancient History: the Late Empire (Cambridge University Press 1998) ISBN 0521302005.
• Clover, Frank M Flavius Merobaudes (American Philosophical Society 1971).
• Creasy, Sir Edward, Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World,
• Drinkwater, John Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity? (Cambridge University Press 1992) ISBN 0521414857.
• Elton, Hugh Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350-425 (Oxford University Press 1998) ISBN 0198152418.
• Ferrill, Arther, The Fall of the Roman Empire: The Military Explanation. Thames and Hudson, London, 1986.
• Jones, A.H.M., The Later Roman Empire 284-602. Oxford Press, Cambridge, 1964.
• Norwich, John J. Byzantium: The Early Centuries. The Fall of the West. Knopf, New York, 1997
• O'Flynn, John Michael Generalissimos of the Western Roman Empire (The University of Alberta Press 1983) ISBN 0888640315.
• Oost, Stewart I., Galla Placidia Augusta. Chicago, 1968.
• Gregory of Tours, Historia Francorum ii.8, gives a condensed version of Aetius' character and career, using a lost history of Renatus Frigeridus.