Censorius
Encyclopedia
Censorius was a count (comes
) of the Western Roman Empire
from 432 until his death. He is mentioned in the Chronicle of Hydatius
under the years 432 and 440.
In 432, 437, and 440 he was sent into Hispania
as an ambassador to the Suevi. On his second expedition he was accompanied by the legate
Fretimund. While returning from his third expedition he was captured by Rechila
, the Suevic king, near Mértola
(Myrtilis). He spent the next eight years in captivity before being executed by Agiulf at Seville
(Hispalis). His execution may have some connection with the subsequent belligerent attitude of Rechila's successor, Rechiar
, towards the Romans.
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
) of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
from 432 until his death. He is mentioned in the Chronicle of Hydatius
Hydatius
Hydatius or Idacius , bishop of Aquae Flaviae in the Roman province of Gallaecia was the author of a chronicle of his own times that provides us with our best evidence for the history of the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century.-Life:Hydatius was born around the year 400 in the...
under the years 432 and 440.
In 432, 437, and 440 he was sent into Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
as an ambassador to the Suevi. On his second expedition he was accompanied by the legate
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
Fretimund. While returning from his third expedition he was captured by Rechila
Rechila
Rechila was the Suevic King of Galicia from 438 until his death. There are few primary sources for his life, but Hydatius was a contemporary Christian chronicler in Galicia....
, the Suevic king, near Mértola
Mértola
Mértola is a municipality in southeastern Portugal next to the Spanish border. It has a total area of 1,292.87 km² and a total population of 8,712 inhabitants . In terms of land area, it is the sixth-largest municipality in Portugal. The resultant population density of 6.74 persons/km² is the...
(Myrtilis). He spent the next eight years in captivity before being executed by Agiulf at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
(Hispalis). His execution may have some connection with the subsequent belligerent attitude of Rechila's successor, Rechiar
Rechiar
Rechiar or Rechiarius was the Suevic King of Galicia from 448 until his death. He was the first Catholic Germanic king in Europe and one of the most innovative and belligerent of the Suevi monarchs...
, towards the Romans.
Sources
- Thompson, E. A. "The Conversion of the Spanish Suevi to Catholicism." Visigothic Spain: New Approaches. ed. Edward JamesEdward James (historian)Edward James is Professor of Medieval History at University College, Dublin. He received a BA 1968; DPhil in 1975. He was a Lecturer, then College Lecturer, at the Department of Medieval History, University College Dublin from 1970-1978...
. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980. ISBN 0-19-922543-1.