Download or read book Generalissimos of the Western Roman Empire written by John M. O'Flynn and published by University of Alberta. This book was released on 1983 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: John Micheal O'Flynn traces the development of the position of the generalissimo, or emperor's commander of the military forces, in the western part of the Roman Empire during the first century AD. From the arrogant barbarian Arbogast, who treated the youthful emperor Valentinian as his puppet, to Odovacar, who dismissed the last western emperor and was pronounced king of Italy in 476, the generalissimos' seizure of power led to dissolution and chaos from which would emerge the political patterns of medieval and modern Europe.