Editing Ricimer (section)

====Consequences of failure====
The failed joint expedition against the Vandals was a "shock to Roman prestige".{{sfn|Williams|Friell|1999|p=175}} This combined military venture—known otherwise as the [[Battle of Cape Bon (468)]]—was an unequivocal disaster that reduced Roman military might and also nearly bankrupted the Western and Eastern Empires alike, certainly dooming the Western half "to extinction" according to historian Peter Heather.{{sfn|Heather|2005|pp=403–406}} Upon hearing of the disastrous defeat, the Visigoths resumed their wars of expansion against the West and the [[Burgundians]] expanded their kingdom towards [[Arles]].{{sfn|Heather|2005|pp=416–418}} With Marcellinus dead, Geiseric recommenced his attacks upon Italy in 470, which forced Ricimer—as the sole commander in the West—to assume command of Italy's defense against the Vandals.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|pp=118–119}} Marcellinus had been Anthemius' favorite of the two generals, and his death served to widen the divide between the emperor and Ricimer. The tipping point of their relationship was the trial of [[Romanus (usurper)|Romanus]], the imperial chancellor ({{lang|la|[[magister officiorum]]}}) and supporter of Ricimer, whom Anthemius accused of treason and condemned to death in 470.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=119}}{{efn|For the classical sources, refer to: [[Cassiodorus]], {{lang|grc-Latn|Chronicon}}, 1289; and [[Paul the Deacon]], {{lang|la|Historia Romana}}, xv.2; [[John of Antioch (chronicler)|John of Antioch]], fragments 209.1–2, 207, translated by C. D. Gordon, ''The Age of Attila'' (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1966), pp. 122f}} Following the execution of Romanus by Anthemius, Ricimer moved north to [[Milan]] with a force of six thousand soldiers.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=119}} Relations between the two deteriorated to the point that [[Epiphanius of Pavia]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|bishop of Milan]], was asked to negotiate peace between them.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=119}}{{efn|Related in: Ennodius, {{lang|la|Vita Epiphanius}}, 51–75; translated in Sr. Genevieve Marie Cook, ''The Life of Saint Epiphanius by Ennodius: A translation with an introduction and commentary'' (Washington: Catholic University of America, 1942), pp. 53–63.}}

Despite the bishop's efforts, the two were irreconcilable and began insulting one another; Anthemius called Ricimer a "skin-clad Goth", while Ricimer referred to the emperor as "an excitable Galatian".{{sfn|Elton|2018|p=216}}{{efn|The exchanges between Anthemius and Ricimer are recorded in: Ennodius, {{lang|la|Vita Epiphanius}}, 67, 53.}} By 472, open warfare broke out between them, during which Ricimer marched on [[Siege of Rome (472)|Rome itself]], a siege that lasted many months.{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=261}} Four months into the assault on Rome, Ricimer named [[Olybrius]] (the brother-in-law of Geiseric) to the throne in a move of conciliation, since the Vandal king had been pressing for his elevation.{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=120}}{{efn|According to John Malalas, Leo dispatched Olybrius from Constantinople to mediate a truce between Ricimer and Anthemius, but he had sent ahead a secret letter to Anthemius, urging him to kill Olybrius. Ricimer intercepted the letter, showed it to Olybrius, and had him proclaimed emperor. This contention is found in: John Malalas, {{lang|la|Chronographica}}, 373–374. From what historian James M. Flynn relates, there is reason to be suspicious about this claim by Malalas, although he also avows, "It must be admitted, however, that Leo had some reason to fear and mistrust Olybrius, whose claim to the purple on dynastic grounds was, like that of Anthemius, stronger than the claim of Leo himself; Olybrius could furthermore count on the support of Gaiseric. Leo must have welcomed an opportunity to get Olybrius away from Constantinople, just as he had previously done with Anthemius."{{sfn|O'Flynn|1983|p=121}} }} After months of siege and suffering from starvation, Rome surrendered and Ricimer finally entered the city.{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=278}}{{efn|See: John of Antioch, fragment 209.1–2; translated by C. D. Gordon, ''The Age of Attila'', p. 122f}} Anthemius tried to escape by disguising himself as a beggar, but the emperor was caught attempting to flee the city at the Church of [[Santa Maria in Trastevere]], where he was beheaded on 11 July 472.{{sfn|Halsall|2007|p=278}}{{efn|John of Antioch, fragment 209, in C. D. Gordon, ''Age of Attila'', p. 122f}}