Editing Joannes (section)

== History ==
Joannes was a ''[[primicerius notariorum]]'' or senior civil servant at the time of his elevation. [[Procopius]] praised him as "both gentle and well-endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds."<ref>[[Procopius]], [https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/procopius-vandals.asp ''De Bellus'' III.3.6.] Translated by H.B. Dewing, ''Procopius'' (Cambridge: Loeb Classical Library, 1979), vol. 2 p. 25</ref>

From the beginning, his control over the empire was insecure. His [[praetorian prefect]] was slain in [[Gaul]] by an uprising of the soldiery at [[Arles]],<ref name=":0">Oost, Stewart (1968). ''Galla Placidia Augusta: A biographical essay''. Chicago: University Press, pp. 186–189ff.</ref> and [[Bonifacius]], ''[[comes]]'' of the [[Diocese of Africa]], held back the grain fleet destined to [[Rome]].<ref>[[Olympiodorus of Thebes|Olympiodorus]], fragment 40. Translated by C.D. Gordon, ''Age of Attila: Fifth Century Byzantium and the Barbarians'' (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1966), pp. 44f</ref>

"The events of Johannes' reign are as shadowy as its origins," writes [[John Matthews (historian)|John Matthews]], who then provides a list of the ruler's known actions in a single paragraph. Joannes was proclaimed at Rome and praetorian games were provided at the expense of a member of the [[Anicia gens]]. Johannes then moved his base of operations to [[Ravenna]], knowing full well that the [[Eastern Empire]] would strike from that direction. There is a mention of an expedition against Africa, but its fate, presumed unsuccessful, is unrecorded. In Gaul, he appears to have caused offense by submitting clerics to secular courts.<ref>Matthews, John (1990). ''Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364–425''. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 379f.</ref>

Joannes had hoped that he could come to an agreement with the Eastern Emperor, but when [[Theodosius II]] elevated the young [[Valentinian III]] to ''[[Caesar (title)|caesar]]'' (undoubtedly influenced by Valentinian's mother [[Galla Placidia]]), he knew he could only expect war. Late in 424, he gave to one of his younger and most promising followers, [[Aetius (general)|Aëtius]], an important mission. Aëtius, governor of the Palace at the time, was sent to the [[Huns]], with whom he had lived as a hostage earlier, to seek military help.<ref>Renatus Frigeridus, cited in [[Gregory of Tours]], ''Decem Libri Historiarum'', II.8; translated by Lewis Thorpe, ''History of the Franks'' (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974), pp. 118f</ref>

While Aëtius was away, the army of the Eastern Empire left [[Thessalonica]] for [[Italy (Roman Empire)|Italy]], and soon camped in [[Aquileia]]. Although the primary sources state that Ravenna fell to their assault – [[John of Antioch (chronicler)|John of Antioch]] states that a [[shepherd]] led the army of [[Aspar]] safely through the marshes that protected the city.<ref>John of Antioch, fragment 195; translated by C.D. Gordon, ''Age of Attila'', p. 47</ref> Aspar's father, [[Ardabur (consul 427)|Ardaburius]], who had been captured by Joannes' soldiers, may have convinced the garrison of Ravenna to betray the city.<ref name=":0" /> The fallen emperor was brought to Aquileia where first [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|his hand was cut off]], then he was paraded on a [[donkey]] in the [[Hippodrome]] to the insults of the populace. After further insults and injuries, Joannes was finally decapitated in mid 425.<ref>Procopius, III.3.9; translated by Dewing, pp. 75ff</ref> His death is sometimes dated to May or June, probably on the basis two laws in the ''[[Codex Theodosianus]]'' issued by Theodosius II on 5 May 425.<ref>[https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/theodosius/theod15.shtml Codex Theodosianus] in [[The Latin Library]].</ref>

Three days after Joannes's death, Aëtius returned at the head of a substantial Hunnic army. After some skirmishing, Placidia, [[regent]] to her son, and Aëtius came to an agreement that established the political landscape of the [[Western Roman Empire]] for the next thirty years. The Huns were paid off and sent home, while Aetius received the position of ''[[magister militum]]'' ([[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Roman army]]).<ref name=":0" /> The historian [[Adrian Goldsworthy]] writes that "it took a hard-fought campaign by strong elements of the [[East Roman]] army and navy, in addition to a fair dose of betrayal," to defeat Joannes.<ref>[[Adrian Goldsworthy|Goldsworthy, Andrian]] (2010). ''The Fall of the West: The Slow Death of the Roman Superpower''. Orion Books Ltd, Paperback Edition. London, pp. 305 and 436.</ref>