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Leo I
Augustus (Estern Roman Empire)  AD 457 - 474

Flavius Valerius Leo (ca. AD 411- 474):
Husband of Aelia Verina;
Father of Aelia Ariadne and Leontia (wife of Patricius);
Brother-in-law of Basiliscus;
Father-in-law of Patricius and Zeno;
Grandfather of Leo II.

AD 457 - 470 - Sole reign
AD 470 - 471 - Augustus with Patricius as Caesar
AD 471 - 473 - Sole reign
AD 473 - 474 - Augustus with Leo II as Caesar
AD 474 - co-Augustus with Leo II

Paralel rulers of the Western Roman Empire:
Majorian (AD 457 - 461
Severus III (AD 461 - 465)
Anthemius (AD 467 - 472)
Olybrius (AD 472)
Glycerius (AD 473 - 474)

Flavius Leo hailed from the Thracian tribe of the Bessi, made a career in the army, and was eleveated to the throne by the Alan Aspar, Master of Soldiers at the time of the death of emperor Marcian. For several years Aspar remained dominant in imperial policies, but Leo gradually sidelined him, not least through a steady recruitment of Isaurian soldiers to replace Aspar's Germans in crucial positions. Among his major-and botched-enterprises were two expeditions against the Vandals, in 468 and 470. In 471 Aspar was finally removed by the then powerful leader of the Isaurians, Zeno, but this provoked a serious disturbance among the other high military officers and the open rebellion of Aspar's Ostrogothic relative, Theodoric Strabo in the Balkans. Leo was forced to recognize the royal title which Theodoric appropriated. In late 473 he proclaimed his grandson Leo II as co-emperor, and shortly thereafter, in January 474 contracted dysentery and died. He was pious Christian and is known for his harsh anti-pagan legislation.

Mints: Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinopolis, Cyzicus, Heraclea, Mediolanum, Nicomedia, Ravenna, Rome, Thessalonica.

List all Leo I coins in the Catalog.

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