Johannes succeeded Honorius, but was not recognized in
Constantinople and was deposed. Valentinian III was a nonentity controlled first by his
mother, then by Aetius. During his reign conditions in the West deteriorated and
Africa fell to the Vandals; after killing Aetius, Valentinian was overthrown by Petronius
Maximus, and his widow was forced to marry Petronius. She appealed to Gaiseric
who "vandalized" Rome, and Petronius was
killed by the mob. Avitus assumed
the throne, but exactions to pay his allies caused a revolt.
The energetic Majorian followed and defeated the Visigoths, but his expedition to recover Africa was
betrayed to the Vandals. This ended hope for recovery in the West,
and for Majorian, who was deposed and executed by Ricimer. |
