Olybrius

• the surname of several Roman consuls. To one of them, the consul Anicius Olybrius, is addressed a poem of Claudian.
• —Hence, Olȳbrĭăcus, a, um, adj., Olybrian: genus et nomen, Prud. ap. Symm. 1, 556.

(Ὀλύβριος), Roman emperor in A. D. 472, was a descendant of the ancient and noble family of the Anicians. Down to 455 he lived in Rome, but left it after its sack by Geneseric and the accession of Avitus, and went to Constantinople. In 464, he was made consul ; and in the same year, or some time previously, married Placidia, the daughter of the emperor Valentinian III., the same princess who had been a captive of Genseric. It appears that Olybrius stood on very intimate terms with that king of the Vandals, whoi was active in helping him to the imperial crown of Italy. In 472, during the troubles occasioned by, the dissensions between the Western emperor Anthemius and the powerful patrician Ricimer, Olybrilus was sent to Italy by Zeno under the pretext of assisting Anthemlius; but his real motive wis to seize the supreme power, a scheme in which he was openly assisted by Genseric, and secretly by the emperor Zeno, who, it appears, stood in feat of Olybrius oil account of his connectionrs with the king of the Vandals. Instead, therefore, of pronioting the interest of Anthlemius, he entered into negotiations with Ricimer, and ere long he was proclaimed emperor by a strong fic tion, with the connivance of Ricimer, to whom the imperial power vwas of more value than the imperial title. Anthemius, however, was still in Rome, and enjoyed popularity. When Ricimer came to attack him, Anthemius, supported by Gothic auxiliaries under Gelimer, made a stout resistance, till at last the besieger gained the city in consequence of his victory at the bridge of Hadrian. Rome was once more plundered, and Anthemiuns s wa murdered by order of Ricimer (11th July, 472). Olybrius was now recognised as emperor without any opposition, and could exercise his power free from any control since immediately after this catastrophe, Ricimer was attacked by a violent distemper which carried hin off a few weeks afterwards. The only act of Olybrius during his short reign, which is recorded in history, is the raising of Gundobaldus, the nephew of Ricimer, to the patrician dignity. Olybrius died a natural death, as it appears, on the 23d of October 472, after a short and peaceful reign of three months and thirteen days.' He left a daughter, Juliana Anicia, by his wife Placidia. His successor was Glycerius. (Marcellinus Cones, Cassiodorus, Victor, Chronica; Chiron. Alexandr., Chron. Pascstle ; Ennudius, Vita Epiph. p. 380; Evagrius, 2.16 ; Procop. Fond. 1.57; Zonar. vol. i. p. 40; Malchus, p. 95; Priscus in Excerpt. Legat. p. 74 ; Theophan. p. 102, in the Paris edit.; Jornandes, De Reb. Goth. p. 128, ed. Lindenbrog.) [W.P]

A Roman emperor placed on the imperial throne by Ricimer, the Suebian, in succession to Anthemius (A.D. 472). He reigned only three months and thirteen days, when he died, and was succeeded by Glycerius.