Chapter I: Winning is Easy, Governing is Harder
It’s hard to overstate just how remarkable Majorian’s reconquests were, even without considering the North African campaign, which many consider to be his magnum opus. In less than five years, he had doubled the size of the Western Roman Empire with his reconquests, moving with incredible speed and force. Such a feat was matched in Roman history only by Aurelian, who had found the empire in a similar crisis and restored it in a similar fashion.
Now that Majorian had installed loyal Roman administrators in North Africa and sent the grain fleets to Rome once more, he planned to sail back to Italy in spring 462. His army had settled into winter quarters, and he didn’t want to move without them. Politics in Rome were as volatile as ever, and every Emperor’s position was fragile at best. In order to ensure he would survive and be able to enforce his reforms, Majorian refused to go without his army. As fate would have it, his caution would be rewarded.
In late March 462, Majorian and his army sailed for Italy. While he had been out kicking ass and rescuing the empire from the brink of collapse, Ricimer had been in Ravenna, scheming. He had initially supported Majorian’s emperorship; They were friends, and Ricimer figured that he could easily manipulate Majorian. Instead Majorian raged against the dying light, and did so with remarkable effectiveness. Ricimer felt his power slipping away, and figured that Majorian would reduce the power of his officials and generals, bringing them back under state control. Indeed, he had already implemented anti-corruption measures. Seeing that Majorian had no intention of being a mere puppet of a Germanic general, Ricimer began plotting to depose him and replace him with a true puppet. Accordingly, he began to gather his supporters and forces in Ravenna, and sent out a call for more troops from his supporters in the provinces.
When Majorian landed in Italy, he sent a letter to Ricimer ordering him to disperse his troops. Ricimer refused, and assembled his army for battle. Majorian was saddened by his friend’s betrayal, but he was undeterred; His duty was to the empire, not to any one man. That was where he and almost every recent power-holder in the empire differed. Majorian marched half of his army from Ostia in May 462, sailing the other half to Ravenna directly under Marcellinus. Ricimer officially raised Libius Severus as emperor. Battle was joined outside Ravenna in early June 462.
Majorian assembled his infantry at the top of a hill, which they began to fortify. Ricimer knew time was against him; Unless he won this battle soon, his supporters would abandon him, as most of them knew full well that Majorian was the rightful emperor, and he was very popular with the people after his victories. Majorian’s fleet had blockaded Ravenna, so Ricimer couldn’t escape. He had to attack Majorian’s position. Accordingly, he ordered his troops up the hill. Majorian’s forces had already dug trenches, breaking up the charge. Both sides’ skirmishers traded fire. Arrows were shot, slingstones launched, javelins cast. The battle for the fate of the entire western world had begun. Once Ricimer’s troops hit the trenches, Majorian’s archers fired a volley. Men screamed as they fell, dead or wounded. Ricimer’s troops were forced to form a shield wall, slowing them down.
Meanwhile, Majorian had ordered the other half of his army to secretly land a few hours’ march down the coast and march up. Once Ricimer’s forces were engaged, the other army would pin them, and Majorian’s cavalry would smash the opposing force to pieces. If the plan worked it would go down in history as a brilliant military maneuver. If it failed it would be remembered forever as a great folly. And indeed, it was risky. Because his army was split, Majorian had few reserves, while Ricimer would have a proper reserve to throw into the battle when the time was right. If Ricimer could use his reserves effectively, he could break Majorian’s line before the other half of his army arrived.
Ricimer’s forces engaged Majorian’s troops at the top of the hill. Majorian’s dug-in veterans withstood Ricimer’s charge, and inflicted more casualties than they took. Still, Ricimer’s troops were motivated by desperation; If the rebellion failed, they would be rounded up and imprisoned or executed. And so they fought hard, and Majorian’s line was slowly pushed back. Ricimer knew this was the moment, and threw in his reserves. Spears clashed against shields, searching for an opening. Men pushed against one another. Archers fired volleys point blank. Men screamed and fell, their comrade’s boots crunching over their dead or dying bodies as they marched ever forwards.
Majorian looked on with great worry. If his line broke, any chance of restoring the empire would be gone. He threw in what few reserves he had, but his troops could only hold for so long. They had been fighting for a few hours at this point, and they were exhausted. In ancient warfare the goal was not so much to kill the enemy in direct conflict, though that certainly helped. The goal was to break them. Once their formation was broken, the victorious force would inflict great slaughter upon their defeated foes. Whichever side could hold on longer would win. Ricimer’s forces fought with the desperation of a cornered animal, and the force and ferocity of their assault was battering down Majorian’s line.
Around 3:00 in the afternoon, Majorian received a message: The other half of his army was near, and he needed to hold out. Knowing victory was near if he could just hold on, he rallied his men. Grabbing a spear himself, he lept into the fray, fighting on the line with his men. This was incredibly risky, but they needed a morale boost.
A few minutes later, a horn sounded; Marcellinus had arrived. His troops marched towards Ricimer’s forces. Recognizing the trap, Ricimer tried to withdraw his forces, but it was too late. His army was caught between the two forces. Seeing their reinforcements, Majorian’s troops were reinvigorated. They pushed forward. Ricimer’s forces panicked and broke. Majorian unleashed his cavalry. It was a rout.
Seeing his forces in shambles, Ricimer tried to flee, but Majorian’s cavalry rode him down and captured him. He was brought before the emperor, who had him executed publicly. Marcellinus was promoted to Magister Militum of the west in his place, a reward for his loyalty.
Majorian removed Ricimer’s hardline loyalists and had them imprisoned. Everyone else kept their position after swearing loyalty to the new emperor. After installing loyalists into the upper offices, Majorian set about getting the empire in shape. For while he had largely restored its territorial integrity, with the Germanic tribes once again reduced to foederati status, the empire was still badly in need of domestic reform. Accordingly, Majorian sets out enforcing his earlier reforms and implementing new ones. With his victories and reconquests, his position was as secure as it could get, and his prestige and popularity were quite high. And with North Africa reincorporated into the empire, the economy was improving, even if slowly. The people of Rome were receiving their grain doles again, and so were content.
Majorian sought to make tax collection more efficient, and to eliminate corruption and embezzlement. He had canceled past debts and owed taxes, knowing that nobody could effectively pay the accumulated debt. He also made it so that public administrators could no longer collect taxes, which they had been mostly keeping for themselves and refusing to pay. Rather, only the governors could collect taxes now. He reigned in the abuses of the senators. All of these measures increased the revenue flowing into the coffers without actually raising taxes, and also increased the people’s trust in the administration.
Majorian reestablished the office of defensor civitatis, a public official responsible for defending the people in public trials against the administration. He also forgave the previous abuses of the decurions, and forbade them from abandoning their status.
Majorian also forbade women from taking vows of chastity until they were forty years old. This was to increase birth rates and reduce illicit affairs. Many women were being forced to take religious vows in order to keep wealth in the family. This new law also gave women who had been forced to take vows the same rights to inheritance as everyone else in the family. He also prohibited young widows under the influence of the clergy from taking religious vows.
Majorian involved the senatorial aristocracy of Italy in his administration. However, his deposed predecessor Avitus had made the mistake of only trusting the senators from his native Gaul. Majorian used senators from both Italy and Gaul in his administration. He also promised the senators that he would not use the accusations of informers against them, which was a fear of many.
Majorian also passed laws to protect the old buildings of the empire. Judges who had let the monuments be taken apart for building material were fined, and their subordinates were whipped or their hands amputated. The senate had the power to decide whether buildings could be taken apart, and Majorian still reserved the right to override this.
Overall, Majorian’s reign was wildly successful. One peasant wrote, “I cannot recall an emperor in memory more just and skilled.” A 6th century historian, Procopius, wrote that he “Surpassed in virtue all who have ever been emperors of the Romans.” Sidonius Apollinaris, a contemporary of Majorian, stated, “That he was gentle to his subjects; That he was terrible to his enemies; and that he excelled in every virtue, all his predecessors who had reigned over the Romans.” Such high praise is indeed justified. The empire was not out of the woods by any means, and there would be plenty of trials and tribulations, both in the near and distant future, but for the first time in a long time, there was hope. The western flame was once again flaring up.
There's the first real chapter. Comments and questions are more than welcome. Merry late Christmas! Please give constructive criticism. I'm probably going to start adding in scenes and narrative parts after this, and I want to know what you guys think. Happy holidays!
