All the generalissimo’s men? Delegating military authority in the western Roman Empire

• Autores: Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele
• Localización: Hermathena, ISSN 0018-0750, Nº. 208-209, 2020, págs. 235-254
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This article explores the power attributed to military commanders labelled as generalissimos in the fifth century western Roman Empire. The significance of the western magistri utriusque militiae (army generals) in this era has long been recognised. Men such as Stilicho or Aëtius achieved positions of secular authority that often threatened to marginalise even the emperors they were serving. Yet throughout this era, no generalissimo could tackle by himself the many crises plaguing the hesperium regnum (western empire). This article investigates the priorities of western magistri militum, when dealing with usurpation, revolts and invasions. It assesses the areas to which these senior commanders were more likely to send subordinates to wage war in their stead. Finally, it also shows how emperors sought to curb their powers.