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Julius Valerius Majorianus (died 461 AD) was one of the Western Roman Empire’s most promising rulers, and raised hopes for his realm’s resurgence. Even so, despite all his talents, and in quintessentially Roman style, Majorian came undone by his own.
Following a pattern shared by many Emperors, Majorian forged his career within the military. Owing his talent, he advanced rapidly, and by young adulthood served directly under the powerful Aetius, magister militum, or second-in-command only to western Emperor Valentinian III himself. In fact, Majorian’s career trajectory was so impressive that Valentinian, lacking a direct male descendent, chose Majorian as his daughter Placidia’s intended husband. This idea did not sit well with Aetius, who favored his own son for Placidia. Consequently, the jealous Aetius betrayed and expelled Majorian, striping him of all military responsibilities. After a time, Aetius paid for his sedition, falling at Valentinian’s hands. The Augustus then recalled Majorian into his service, to provide protection and stability. The effort proved insufficient; six months later, Valentinian’s internal enemies managed murder, plunging the Western Empire into yet another chaotic imperial transition.
After Valentinian’s demise, the patrician Petronius Maximus claimed the throne. To bolster his position, Maximus arranged Placidia’s marriage to his kinsman Olybrius and wedded Valentinian’s widow, Licinia Eudoxia. These efforts temporarily bolstered Maximus’ position, but did not address the most serious problem: a powerful barbarian tribe was bearing down on Rome. Vandal King Geiseric was headed Maximus’ way from Carthage, ostensibly responding to Licinia’s appeal for assistance. The Augustus attempted escape, and found death instead at the hands of the mob. Geiseric and his Vandals sacked Rome for weeks, unopposed.
Next in line for Rome’s throne was Maximus’ magister militum, Marcus Maecilius Flavius Eparchius Avitus. Avitus, disapproved by his subjects and ignored by Constantinople, sought high-ranking western generals for assistance, including Majorian and his comrade-in-arms, the powerful part-Visigoth/part-Suevi prince, Flavius Ricimer. Majorian and Ricimer initially supported Avitus on the throne. However, Avitus’ popularity continued to decline, and Majorian and Ricimer went into action. Ricimer managed to oust Avitus; meanwhile, Majorian and his generals challenged and repulsed Alemanni tribes emboldened by the recent Vandal achievement.
Riding the success, Majorian accepted his own troop’s nomination as Augustus, and Ricimer would serve as the Emperor's magister militum, or highest level military commander. This development was well to Ricimer’s liking, since he was disqualified as an imperial candidate (due to his mixed barbarian blood). Instead, Ricimer preferred to rule from behind the throne, figuring that his trusting colleague would be easy to control as a puppet Emperor. However, Auguatus Majorian proved to be an aggressive and shrewd leader.
Majorian’s first order of business was to strengthen and consolidate his position in Italy. He wiped out the Vandals who returned to attack southern Italy in 458 AD. He decreed that citizens had the right to protect themselves by bearing arms, and he expanded his army, whose numbers swelled with new recruits, particularly from sympathetic barbarian tribes.
Having shored up Italy, Majorian spent the next several years re-conquering most of Hispania and Gaul, and by combination of battle and diplomacy managed to reduce a variety of local barbarian tribes (Visgoths, Burgundians, Suevi) to federate status subject to his rule. Given these military successes, many hoped that Majorian might lead the western Empire out of decline and into another golden age.
In addition to his military accomplishments, Majorian enacted numerous decrees aimed at improving fairness and efficiency. His eclectic, diverse agenda included administrative reforms, women’s issues, and protection and preservation of ancient public buildings. Majorian also enacted many fiscal reforms, for example, laws towards eliminating tax abuses perpetrated by senators and other wealthy landowners. Although many commoners benefitted and approved of these reformist developments, the senatorial aristocracy, not surprisingly, grew increasing concerned.
Majorian also struck some coins, in bronze, silver, and gold, although extremely few have survived to this day. The current ancient bronze, struck at Mediolanum (Milan), provides an example of one of the few designs known. The obverse details, Majorian’s pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust encircled by an imperial inscription, are typical for late Western Roman Empire coinage. Likewise iconic is the reverse depiction of Victory, standing proud and holding a wreath and a palm frond, encircled by the inscription VICTORIA AVGGG. The later infers three Augusti were in power, even though only Majorian in the west and Leo in the east officially held the title. Interestingly, Leo’s coinage of the period also suggests a third leader. Perhaps the (non-official) third Augustus referred to in this context was Ricimer.
Ricimer focused on governance over Italy, allowing Majorian to attend to battling for the glory of the Empire. Indeed, now that Majorian had gained dominance all along the northern Mediterranean, he expanded his navy and set sights on his Vandal foes in Africa. By 460 AD, Majorian surmised he was in position to finally settle the score against the Vandals for sacking Rome. According to the ancient historian Procopius, Majorian decided to assess the military capabilities of the Vandals personally, so he disguised himself as a Western Empire envoy and paid Genseric a visit. While this tale is likely apocryphal, it illustrates Majorian’s reputation for bravery.
Unfortunately, before Majorian could realize his plans, his naval fleet fell to sabotage. The saboteurs were likely employed by Geiseric, and it is speculated that Ricimer and the Senate may have played a role as well. After recalling his invasion plans and disbanding his forces, Majorian returned to Italy, only to be forced out of power by Ricimer. Majorian died shortly thereafter, by execution, or possibly suicide. Thus ends the history of Majorian, who - if he had foreseen and avoided the treachery upon his fleet – might have maintained the late Western Roman Empire resurgence, fostering an interesting, alternate history.
Coin Details: WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE, Majorian, AD 457-461, Æ (14mm, 1.86 g, 11h), Mediolanum (Milan) mint, NGC Grade: Ch VF, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, D N IVL MAIORANVS PE(F?) AVG, Reverse: Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond, VICTORIA AVGGG, MD in exergue, References: RIC X 2645; LRBC 582.