Back Antemio AN أنثيميوس Arabic انثيميوس ARZ آنتمیوس AZB Пракопій Антэмій Byelorussian Антемий Bulgarian Antemije BS Procopi Antemi Catalan Anthemius Czech Anthemius German
| Anthemius | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Roman emperor | |||||
| Reign | 12 April 467 – 11 July 472 | ||||
| Predecessor | Libius Severus | ||||
| Successor | Olybrius | ||||
| Eastern emperor | Leo I | ||||
| Born | Constantinople[1] | ||||
| Died | 11 July 472 Rome | ||||
| Spouse | Marcia Euphemia | ||||
| Issue | Alypia Anthemius Anthemiolus Marcian Romulus | ||||
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| Dynasty | Theodosian[a] | ||||
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity[b] | ||||
Procopius Anthemius[2] (Ancient Greek: Πρόκοπιος Ανθέμιος, romanized: Prókopios Anthémios; died 11 July 472) was the Western Roman emperor from 467 to 472. Born in the Eastern Roman Empire, Anthemius quickly worked his way up the ranks. He married into the Theodosian dynasty through Marcia Euphemia, daughter of Eastern emperor Marcian. He soon received a significant number of promotions to various posts, and was presumed to be Marcian's planned successor. However, Marcian's sudden death in 457, together with that of Western emperor Avitus, left the imperial succession in the hands of Aspar. He instead appointed Leo, a low-ranking officer, to the Eastern throne, probably out of fear that Anthemius would be too independent. Eventually, this same Leo designated Anthemius as Western emperor in 467, following a two-year interregnum that started in November 465.
Anthemius attempted to solve the two primary military challenges facing the remains of the Western Roman Empire: the resurgent Visigoths, under Euric, whose domain straddled the Pyrenees; and the unvanquished Vandals, under Geiseric, in undisputed control of North Africa. Anthemius's insistence on ruling independently placed him into direct conflict with the Gothic general Ricimer. Previously the real power behind the throne, Ricimer found that Anthemius's reign threatened his own interests. This eventually escalated into open warfare between the two, with the result that Anthemius lost not only his throne, but also his head, in 472.
- ^ PLRE, "Anthemius 3", p. 96.
- ^ His full name is only known from a few coins. Kent, John (2018). Roman Imperial Coinage. Volume X. Spink Books. p. 411. ISBN 978-1-912667-37-6.
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