Survival of the Western Roman Empire

Ricimer was likely not the only one that could have done it. Just because him and Majorian are some of the only few important people int he WRE we know about doesn't mean there weren't more--just ask Majorian's predecessor Avitus for what can happen to an unpopular emperor.

Also, Ricimer would have to be a new brand of stupid to orchestrate the defeat of Majorian's fleet. He faced another problem after killing Majorian, with the eastern Roman Empire, that put his position in jeopardy again. Majorian losing was a lose lose situation for Ricimer. On the other hand, he would benefit greatly in prestige and power from being the right hand man of the emperor that just retook North Africa and it would likely stymie any opposition to Majorian among the aristocracy that he was the one that had to deal with.

1. Maybe not, but it was Ricimer who was in command of Germans in empire. Random Roman aristocrat won't be able to take them and ambush emperor.

2. Nonetheless it was him who captured and killed (and supposedly also tortured) Majorian and then he's been choosing next "emperors", who were his puppets. Majorian defeat wouldn't be final, if Ricimer would be loyal. He could keep cooperating with Majorian in kind of duumvirate, helping him crush nobility opposition. Instead he chose to get power for himself...
 
That is a good question but giving the example of Trajan and Hadrian etc. probably one of his generals who served with him on the Germanic Campaigns.

Knowing the character of his son, I wonder why he didn't follow the adoption route of his predecessors, if only to safeguard the empire.
 
Knowing the character of his son, I wonder why he didn't follow the adoption route of his predecessors, if only to safeguard the empire.

The adoption rule was never a rule or a new government model. It just happened by accident, because Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and Pius had no son.

And Commodus wasn't that bad, before he became emperor. He fought with his father during the war and the legions liked him. The legions prefered hereditary monarchy anyways. If Aurelius really appoints one of his generals for successor, Commodus has a good chance to start a civil war.

The problem is not so much Commodus himself, but that he had no Co-emperor who could take over the empire after the conspiracy which led to his assassination. The romans were already very lucky after Trajans death, when Trajans wife claimed, that Hadrian, his strongest general was appointed heir lately.

But as mentioned above, this would change not that much in the long run.
 
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