Optila (fl. 455 AD) was either a Hun or a Goth bodyguard[1] working for general Aetius and later for Roman Emperor Valentinian III. He is best known for being the assassin of Valentinian III, himself the assassin of Aetius.[2][3]

History

He initially served as bucellarius and was later promoted to the imperial guard.[1] In September 454, Emperor Valentinian killed with his own hands Aetius in Ravenna, while the latter was delivering a financial account. With the death of Aetius, Petronius Maximus looked forward to being made patrician in place of Aetius. However, he was blocked by the eunuch Heraclius. Thus Maximus arranged with Optila and Thraustila, both Aetius' former bodyguards, for the assassination of both Heraclius and emperor Valentinian. Optila stabbed the emperor to death on 16 March 455, as he was dismounting in Campus Martius in preparation for a session of archery practice. Meanwhile, Thraustila killed Heraclius.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Hughes, Ian (2012). Aetius Attila's Nemesis. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 9781783461349. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  2. ^ MacDowall, Simon (2015). Catalaunian Fields AD 451 Rome's Last Great Battle. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472807458. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  3. ^ Fields, Nic (2015). Attila the Hun. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 9781472808882. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  4. ^ Given, John (2014). The Fragmentary History of Priscus: Attila, the Huns and the Roman Empire, AD 430–476. Arx Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-935228-14-1.
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