This article aims to contextualize the role of the praetorian prefecture of Italy in the period between the death of Valentinian III and the end of the Western Roman Empire. After a reconstruction of the fasti (years 455-489 AD), the role of the most powerful of the prefects of these years, Fl. Caecina Decius Basilius, is brought into focus. The career of this great aristocrat, his ability to intervene in imperial politics, his relations with the magister militum praesentalis Ricimer, represents a useful case study from which general considerations can be made, such as the interaction between central government, aristocracy and administration, the balance of power at the top of the res publica and the impact of these balances on the end of imperial authority in the West.

The Prefecture of Italy and the End of the Western Roman Empire

Oppedisano, Fabrizio
2024

Abstract

This article aims to contextualize the role of the praetorian prefecture of Italy in the period between the death of Valentinian III and the end of the Western Roman Empire. After a reconstruction of the fasti (years 455-489 AD), the role of the most powerful of the prefects of these years, Fl. Caecina Decius Basilius, is brought into focus. The career of this great aristocrat, his ability to intervene in imperial politics, his relations with the magister militum praesentalis Ricimer, represents a useful case study from which general considerations can be made, such as the interaction between central government, aristocracy and administration, the balance of power at the top of the res publica and the impact of these balances on the end of imperial authority in the West.
2024
Settore L-ANT/03 - Storia Romana
La préfecture du prétoire tardo-antique et ses titulaires (IVe-VIe siècle)
edipuglia
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
03 Oppedisano.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Accepted version (post-print)
Licenza: Non pubblico
Dimensione 371.72 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
371.72 kB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/140383
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact