Flavius Aetius-the last great Roman general

FLAVIUS AETIUS 391 A.D. - 454 A.D.

EAGLE Flavius Aetius was a Roman general and a statesman of the last period of the Western Roman Empire. Aetius was born in 391 A.D. in Durostorum, Moesia Inferior which is now Silistra, Bulgaria. He was assasinated and died on Sep-

During the years 405 - 408 A.D., Aetius was kept hostage with the Visigoth king Alaric I, then he was sent to the court of Uldin, king of the Huns, and kept hostage throughout much of the reign of Uldin’s successor, Charaton. This experience,

tember 21, 454 A.D. The Roman according to modern historians, name Aetius had its origin from brougtht about two results that Greek meaning “eagle”.

Flavius Aetius was born son of

were later reflected in his life— Aetius knowledge of leading tribal peoples of his day, and

magister equitum, or the master martial vigour thanks to the of the calvar y in today’s language.

upbringing in the militar y.

Alaric I

Aetius mar tial vigour

Uldin the Hun

ACCOMPLISMENTS From 433 - 454 A.D., Aetius

Though not frequently mentioned

effectively ruled the Western

by modern historians compared

Roman Empire and successfully guarded the European

to other ancient figures such as Genghis Khan or Alexander the Great, Aetius was the most influen-

border against the invasion of

tial figure in the Western Rome for

the barbarians.

more than two decades.

From 435 - 437 A.D., Aetius destroyed te Burgundian king-

After the death of his rival Bonifacius, Aetius became the dominating influencer on the young

dom at Worms—an event that

emperor Valentinian III; he thereby

was recorded in the German

became the most powerful man in

literature.

the Western Rome.

Though not a member of the royal

From 437 - 439 A.D., he de-

family, he was appointed the consul

feated King Theodoric I of the

three times (432, 437, 446).

Visigoths at Toulouse.

There was a rumor that envoys from provinces were sent to Aetius instead of the king.

BATTLE OF THE CATALAUNIAN PLAINS ROME’S LAST GREAT BATTLE

The battle was between the Huns led by Attila and the army of mixed Visigoth and the Roman soldiers under the command of Aetius and King Theodoric I. The battle took place in Champagne, eastern France. King Theodoric I died in the battle, but Aetius led the army to defeat the Huns and killed Attila.

The Western Roman Empire was entering its closing period, and its army became very weak; however, Aetius still managed to fight against the barbarians and safeguard Europe. That is the reason why this battle is called the Rome’s last great battle.

The victory of Aetius and king Theodoric’s army in this battle prevented the advance of the Huns into Europe.

THE MONUMENT

The monument of Aetius is the representation of bravery. The monument is depicted in a giant painting of a Roman calvary with a spear in one hand and a shield on the other. The horse that the soldier rides has its two feet in the air. The soldier has a resolute face expression, and the hand holding the spear rises in the air.

LOCATION 1 GMU Art and Design building

LOCATION 2 Regional History museum in Silistra, Bulgaria