Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXI 24-25 Mar 2021
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Johannes AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 423-425. D N IOHANNES P F AVG, rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Emperor standing to right, holding standard in right hand and Victory on globe in left, trampling on captive to right; R-V across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 1901; Ulrich-Bansa 2; Ranieri 51–2; Depeyrot 12/1; Biaggi 2344. 4.40g, 21mm, 7h.
Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the Collection of GK, Ukrainian Emigrant.
Matthews (Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364-425, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990) writes that "the events of Johannes' reign are as shadowy as its origins", and then provides a list of the ruler's known actions in a single paragraph.
What is known of Johannes is that on the death of Honorius on 15 August 423, he was a high ranking official, a primicerius notariorum", and therefore occupied a position of great influence as head of the palace bureaucracy in Ravenna. An 'interregum' of several months followed Honorius' death during which the eastern Emperor Theodosius II hesitated in announcing the death of his uncle, and was therefore technically the ruler of the entire Empire. On 20 November the situation dramatically changed when Honorius' patrician Castinus proclaimed Johannes emperor of the West.
Although Procopius of Caesarea praised him as "both gentle and well-endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds", his control over the empire was insecure from the very beginning. In Gaul, his praetorian prefect was slain at Arelate in an uprising of the soldiery there. Meanwhile Bonifacius, Comes of the Diocese of Africa, held back the grain fleet destined for Rome. More importantly, Theodosius refused to countenance this usurpation and decided to support the claim to the western throne of his young cousin, Valentinian, son of the late Emperor Constantius III and the Empress Galla Placidia. Therefore towards the end of 424 a large army was despatched from the East to forcibly remove Johannes from power and install Valentinian III in his place.
Despite Johannes' apparently fragile position however, the Eastern empire's campaign to depose him was not straightforward. 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 Johannes.
Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the Collection of GK, Ukrainian Emigrant.
Matthews (Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364-425, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990) writes that "the events of Johannes' reign are as shadowy as its origins", and then provides a list of the ruler's known actions in a single paragraph.
What is known of Johannes is that on the death of Honorius on 15 August 423, he was a high ranking official, a primicerius notariorum", and therefore occupied a position of great influence as head of the palace bureaucracy in Ravenna. An 'interregum' of several months followed Honorius' death during which the eastern Emperor Theodosius II hesitated in announcing the death of his uncle, and was therefore technically the ruler of the entire Empire. On 20 November the situation dramatically changed when Honorius' patrician Castinus proclaimed Johannes emperor of the West.
Although Procopius of Caesarea praised him as "both gentle and well-endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds", his control over the empire was insecure from the very beginning. In Gaul, his praetorian prefect was slain at Arelate in an uprising of the soldiery there. Meanwhile Bonifacius, Comes of the Diocese of Africa, held back the grain fleet destined for Rome. More importantly, Theodosius refused to countenance this usurpation and decided to support the claim to the western throne of his young cousin, Valentinian, son of the late Emperor Constantius III and the Empress Galla Placidia. Therefore towards the end of 424 a large army was despatched from the East to forcibly remove Johannes from power and install Valentinian III in his place.
Despite Johannes' apparently fragile position however, the Eastern empire's campaign to depose him was not straightforward. 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 Johannes.