Olybrius

Olybrius (Latin: Anicius Olybrius Augustus) (died October 22 or November 2, 472) was Western Roman Emperor from April or May 472 to his death. He was in reality a puppet ruler, put on the throne by the Roman general of Germanic descent Ricimer, and was mainly interested in religion, while the actual power was held by Ricimer and his nephew Gundobad.

Biography

Family and early career

Olybrius was born in Rome, in the ancient and powerful gens Anicia, of Italian descent.

According to the consensus of historians, he was related to the Consul Anicius Hermogenianus Olybrius, whose wife and cousin, Anicia Juliana, had the same name that Olybrius gave to his own daughter. Other historians consider this questionable, as "Juliana" was a common name in the gens Anicia, and because Hermogenianus seems to have begotten only one daughter, who took chastity vows. Other possible fathers have therefore been proposed: either Flavius Anicius Probus (suggested by Settipani) or, according to some clues, Petronius Maximus.

Olybrius (consul 526)

Flavius Olybrius iunior was a Roman politician. He was appointed consul for the year 526, which he held without a colleague.

Biography

Olybrius comes probably from the family of Anicii. Following his tenure as consul, which was recognised both in the East and in the West, he held the rank of patricius.

On 17 December 546 Olybrius was in Rome when the Ostrogothic King Totila captured the city, Olybrius, Anicius Maximus (who had been consul in 523), Rufius Gennadius Probus Orestes (who had been consul in 530) and other patricii sought refuge in Old St. Peter's Basilica. Captured and sent to Campania, he was still there when Narses conquered Rome in 552; the senators were preparing to return to Rome, but the Goths who guarded them, enraged by the death of Totila, killed them all.

Notes

Olybrius (consul 491)

Flavius Olybrius (floruit 491) was an aristocrat of the Eastern Roman Empire, and consul for 491. He is sometimes referred to as "Olybrius Junior" in the sources. Alan Cameron explains, "It may be that, alone among the consuls here discussed, Olybrius was actually known as 'Olybrius the younger' in social as well as consular contexts. Nor is it hard to think of a reason why: he became consul as a mere child, barely ten years old, perhaps even less."

Life

Olybrius was the son of Areobindus Dagalaiphus Areobindus, Magister Militum from 503 to 504 and consul in 506, and of Anicia Juliana, the daughter of the Western Roman Emperor Olybrius (472) and of Placidia, who was in turn the daughter of the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III (425-455).

He was appointed consul at a very young age in 491. Afterwards Olybrius married Irene, the daughter of Paulus and niece of Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius I (491-518); Anastasius wanted to strengthen his rule through a bond with the House of Theodosius through this marriage. Olybrius and Irene had only daughters, including Proba, who married Anicius Probus Iunior.