NOTES ON FLAVIUS AETIUS, “THE LAST OF THE ROMANS”: A REPRESENTATION IN HISTORIOGRAPHY

Abstract

In this paper, classical sources of late antiquity, including writers as Olympiodorus, Sidonius Apollinaris and Procopius are being analysed to point out the significance of the Roman general and statesman Flavius Aetius in in historiography fashion. With the sources often being compiled either by pagan bureaucrats or by clergymen, this paper aims to establish the tendency in which the events ascribed to Aetius are presented in the twilight of theological hagiography, hero-worshipping panegyrics and political interests. It shall be attempted to address the impact of classical writers mostly determinist evaluation of Aetius and the fate of the Roman Empire onto later, secondary sources of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century. Considering the later literature, we might state that Aetius representation is more or less typical for his age with factual information lacking and being replaced with moralistic and partially metaphysical descriptions.

Keywords

• late roman history
• late antiquity
• flavius aetius
• roman historiography