Summary
Remistus (died September 17, 456) was a Romanized Visigoth and a general of the Western Roman Empire. He served as commander-in-chief of the army under Emperor Avitus. He was appointed magister militum in 456 and remained as such until his execution by Ricimer later that year.
Remistus | |
|---|---|
| Born | before 437 Gaul, Western Roman Empire |
| Died | September 17, 456 (aged at least 20) Ravenna, Western Roman Empire |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Rank | Magister militum |
| Known for | First Visigothic Magister militum |
| Battles/wars | Roman civil war of 456 |
Biography edit
Remistus was born sometime before 437 in Gaul. Remistus was a Visigoth, as shown by his Germanic name. Nothing is known of his family other than that his parents were probably both Visigoths. He is not mentioned by any historical sources until 455.
In 456 Remistus reached a high military rank under Emperor Avitus, who probably appointed him magister militum, and received the rank of patricius. He was the first magister militum since the death of Aetius in 454 and the first barbarian magister militum.
The newly appointed general took up residence in Ravenna, the capital, with a group of Goths. That same year Avitus, who was opposed by the Roman Senate, decided to leave Italy and go to his native Gaul to gather reinforcements; Remistus remained back to control Italy. He clashed with the Senate army, led by the Italian magister militum Ricimer and was forced to return to Ravenna; besieged, he was captured and put to death in the Palace in Classis, on September 17.
The following month, Avitus was deposed and later died.
Bibliography edit
- Fasti vindobonenses priores, 579; Auctarium Prosperi Havniense, 1.
- Theophanes the Confessor, AM 5948
- Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin, John Robert Martindale, John Morris, "Remistus", The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, volume 2, Cambridge University Press, p. 939.
- Mathisen, Ralph W., "Avitus (9/10 July 455 - 17/18 October 456)", De Imperatoribus Romanis