Anthemius
Death
Death
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[thumb\|250px\|The [Old St. Peter's Basilica](/wiki/Old_St._Peter%27s_Basilica "Old St. Peter's Basilica"), built by Emperor [Constantine I](/wiki/Constantine_I "Constantine I"), was the refuge of Anthemius from [Ricimer](/wiki/Ricimer "Ricimer")'s supporters in 472](/wiki/File:Affresco_dell%27aspetto_antico_della_basilica_costantiniana_di_san_pietro_nel_IV_secolo.jpg "Affresco dell'aspetto antico della basilica costantiniana di san pietro nel IV secolo.jpg")

The most important figure at the Western court was [Ricimer](/wiki/Ricimer "Ricimer"), the powerful *magister militum*, who had already decided the fate of several emperors.Ricimer had deposed Avitus and Majorian and supported the election of Libius Severus. The new emperor, however, had been chosen by the Eastern court, and, despite the bond of the marriage between Ricimer and Anthemius' daughter, Alypia, they were not on good terms. The tipping point of their relationship was the trial of [Romanus](/wiki/Romanus_%28usurper%29 "Romanus (usurper)"), an Italian senator and *patricius* supported by Ricimer; Anthemius accused Romanus of treachery and condemned him to death in 470\.[Cassiodorus](/wiki/Cassiodorus "Cassiodorus"), *Chronicon*, 1289; [Paul the Deacon](/wiki/Paul_the_Deacon "Paul the Deacon"), *Historia Romana*, xv.2; [John of Antioch](/wiki/John_of_Antioch_%28chronicler%29 "John of Antioch (chronicler)"), fragments 209\.1–2, 207, translated by C.D. Gordon, *The Age of Attila* (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1966\), pp. 122f

Ricimer had gathered 6,000 men for the war against the Vandals, and after the death of Romanus he moved with his men to the north, leaving Anthemius in Rome. Supporters of the two parties fought several brawls, but Ricimer and the emperor signed a one\-year truce after the mediation of [Epiphanius](/wiki/Epiphanius_of_Pavia "Epiphanius of Pavia"), the Bishop of Pavia.[Magnus Felix Ennodius](/wiki/Magnus_Felix_Ennodius "Magnus Felix Ennodius"), *Vita Epiphanii*, 51–53, 60–68; Paul the Deacon, *Historia Romana*, xv.203\.

At the beginning of 472, the struggle between them renewed, and Anthemius was obliged to feign an illness and took refuge in [St. Peter's Basilica](/wiki/Old_St._Peter%27s_Basilica "Old St. Peter's Basilica"). The Eastern Roman emperor, [Leo](/wiki/Leo_I_%28emperor%29 "Leo I (emperor)"), sent [Olybrius](/wiki/Olybrius "Olybrius") to mediate between Ricimer and Anthemius but, according to John Malalas, had sent a secret letter to Anthemius, urging him to kill Olybrius. Ricimer intercepted the letter, showed it to Olybrius, and had him proclaimed emperor.John Malalas, *Chronographica*, 373–374\.

The struggle became an open war. Anthemius, with the aristocracy and the people of the city, faced the Gothic *magister militum* and the barbarian units of the army, which included [Odoacer](/wiki/Odoacer "Odoacer")'s men. Ricimer blockaded Anthemius in Rome; five months of fighting followed. Ricimer entered the city and succeeded in separating the port on the [Tiber](/wiki/Tiber "Tiber") from the [Palatine](/wiki/Palatine "Palatine"), starving the supporters of the emperor.John of Antioch, fragment 209\.1–2; translated by C.D. Gordon, *The Age of Attila*, pp. 122f.

Both sides appealed to the army in Gaul, but the *Magister militum per Gallias*, the Burgundian [Gundobad](/wiki/Gundobad "Gundobad"), supported his uncle Ricimer. Anthemius elevated Bilimer to the rank of *Rector Galliarum* and had him enter Italy with the loyal army. Bilimer arrived in Rome but died trying to prevent Ricimer entering the centre of the city from the other side of the Tiber, through the [Pons Aelius](/wiki/Pons_Aelius "Pons Aelius") in front of the [Mausoleum of Hadrian](/wiki/Mausoleum_of_Hadrian "Mausoleum of Hadrian").Paul the Deacon, *Historia Romana*, xv.4\.

Losing any hope of external help and pressed by the scarcity of food, Anthemius tried to rally, but his men were defeated and killed in great numbers. The emperor fled for the second time to St. Peter's (or, according to other sources, to [Santa Maria in Trastevere](/wiki/Santa_Maria_in_Trastevere "Santa Maria in Trastevere")), where he was captured and beheaded by GundobadJohn Malalas, *Chronographica*, 37\. or by RicimerCassiodorus, *Chronicle*, 1293; [Marcellinus Comes](/wiki/Marcellinus_Comes "Marcellinus Comes"), *Chronicon*, *s.a.472*; [Procopius of Caesarea](/wiki/Procopius_of_Caesarea "Procopius of Caesarea"), *Bellum Vandalicum*, vii.1–3\. *Chronica gallica anno 511* (n. 650, *s.a.* 472\) records both versions. on 11 July 472\.*[Fasti vindobonenses priores](/wiki/Fasti_vindobonenses_priores "Fasti vindobonenses priores")*, n. 606, *s.a.* 472\.


What were the underlying reasons for the struggle between Ricimer and Anthemius?