Editing Ricimer (section)

===Majorian (457–461)===
As {{lang|la|magister militum}} Ricimer gained influence over the Germanic peoples occupying Gaul, Hispania, and [[Northern Africa]], the sources suggest he and Majorian were operating in concert to seize power; the latter would become the future emperor, while Ricimer would command the military.{{sfn|MacGeorge|2002|p=200}} Since Ricimer was a Germanic tribesman of [[Arianism|Arian]] religious disposition, he was ineligible for the imperial throne himself.{{sfn|MacGeorge|2002|p=201}} Whether or not he wished to be emperor is unknown, but in many respects, Ricimer can be viewed as an "heir of [[Stilicho]]", a barbarian general who served the Roman Empire faithfully.{{sfn|Heather|2005|p=390}}  

With the throne of the Western Empire vacant, the [[Alamanni]] invaded Italy. They moved from [[Raetia]] and managed to reach [[Lake Maggiore]] on the south side of the Alps. Majorian led his field army north to fight the Alamanni, and defeated them. Reaching an agreement with Ricimer, Majorian was proclaimed emperor on 1 April 457.{{sfn|Heather|2005|pp=390–391}} Realizing Majorian's potential as a puppet, Ricimer induced Leo to give his consent to this arrangement and on 28 December 457, Majorian's elevation to Emperor in the West was officially recognized by Constantinople.{{sfn|Heather|2005|p=391}}{{efn|Originally, Leo had made Ricimer the western {{lang|la|patricius}}, joining him with the {{lang|la|patricii}} Aspar and Anthemius in the East.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|p=218}} }}

Leo may not have actually wanted to see Majorian on the throne, but he was in "no position to object" since Majorian had a coalition that included the palatinate at Ravenna, Ricimer's Italian army, the Gallo-Roman general Aegidius, and Theodoric the Great.{{sfn|Kulikowski|2019|p=219}} Leo also granted Ricimer the rank of {{lang|la|magister militum}}.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=106}}{{efn|''[[The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire|PLRE]]'' (II, p. 943) supports the idea that Ricimer had received the title of {{lang|la|magister militum}} before Avitus' fall, probably as a consequence of his earlier victories against the Vandals.}} 

Majorian proved to be quite a capable ruler, to such a degree that historian [[Michael Grant (classicist)|Michael Grant]] claims he was "the last competent emperor the west ever produced".{{sfn|Grant|1998|p=54}} The new emperor demonstrated his military skill via campaigns in Gaul and Hispania against the [[Vandals]] and the Visigoths—atop instituting diplomatic and economic reforms—which greatly increased Majorian's standing among the senate and army, prompting Sidonius to produce a panegyric.{{sfn|Randers-Pehrson|1993|p=194}} Sometime in 458, Majorian staved off an Alamanni attack on [[Raetia]] and a Vandal assault on [[Campania]].{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=263}} In 460, Majorian then prepared to lead a campaign by embarking from Spain against the Vandals of King [[Gaiseric]].{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|pp=356–357}}{{sfn|Halsall|2007|pp=264–265}} However, before the invasion was launched, the bulk of Majorian's fleet was sunk in the harbor at [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]],{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=265}} resulting in a blow to Roman prestige and to Majorian's reputation, which Ricimer exploited.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|p=357}} 

During his absence, Ricimer convinced the senate to turn against the emperor, who soon disbanded his army and returned to Italy. Learning that the emperor was in Tortona, Ricimer led a detachment there and arrested him.{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=265}} With the Western throne vacant, the new Eastern Emperor, [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I]], appointed Ricimer to replace Majorian in his Italian command. Without a Western Emperor, Leo hoped to use Ricimer as his effective vice-regent in the West.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=107}} Deposing Majorian on 3 August 461, Ricimer had the emperor tortured and finally beheaded.{{sfn|Randers-Pehrson|1993|p=195}}{{efn|Priscus gives the specific date of Majorian's death as 7 August 461; see: fragment 27, John of Antioch, fragment 203; both translated by C. D. Gordon, in ''Age of Attila'', pp. 116f.}}