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drawn originated with a donation of 170 million sesterces by Augustus. Three praefecti aerarii militaris
managed the finances.
¤ AETIUS, FLAVIUS (fl. 430-454 A.D.) A remarkable soldier and MAGISTER militum in the Western
Empire during the reign of VALENTINIAN III. Aetius succeeded in acquiring a power base around 430
with the help of the Huns (among whom he had been a hostage in his youth), and with them fought
against the Visigoths and Burgundians throughout Gaul (432-439).
Serving the emperor faithfully, Aetius had to contend not only with the Franks, Goths and Burgundians but
also with the emperor's mother, the formidable Galla placidia, the Augusta of the Western Empire. The two
disliked each other bitterly, viewing one another as natural enemies in Rome's political
maelstrom. Aetius maintained Gaul while Placidia sent her own champion, Boniface, chief of the African
legions, against him. The Huns proved valuable allies on that occasion, and Boniface died, despite a
victory in 432, leaving Aetius the sole power in the Western Empire.
Events turned against him in 451, when ATTILA swept through Belgica and into Gaul. Aetius called
upon the Franks and the Goths to aid in the defense of the West. At the terrible battle of Troyes, the Huns
were stopped but not broken. Attila plundered Italy, and although Aetius proved victorious against Attila,
the Roman's days were numbered. Positioned too far from Rome and having too many enemies,
including the usurper PETRONIUS MAXIMUS and the seneschal of the emperor, Heraclius the Eunuch,
Aetius was vulnerable. In 454, while making his report at the court, Aetius was stabbed by the emperor.
¤ AFER, GNAEUS DOMITIUS (d. 59 A.D.) One of the finest orators of the early Empire, Afer served
as an advocatus, both in accusation and in defense, and Emperor Tiberius used him often in the
condemnation of his opponents, especially Claudia PULCHRA and Furnius. He was generally unpopular
as an individual, and in his later years, when his powers failed him, he could not keep silent. Afer died in
59. He was supposedly from Gallia Narbonensis.
¤ AFRANIUS, LUCIUS (d. 46 B.C.) Legate, consul and an official of POMPEY THE GREAT;
distinguished himself in the CIVIL WAR of the First Triumvirate, more by his persistence than his
tactical skills in the field. In 60 B.C., he was appointed consul but could not compete with the far more
effective METELLUS CELER; he later acquired the governorship of GALLIA CISALPINA. The Civil
Wars gave him further opportunities to advance his career, and in 55, with PETRENIS, he set out for
Hispania Citerior (Spain) to serve as Pompey's legate, with three legions under his command. Spain
attracted Caesar's attention immediately, and at ILERDA in 49, Afranius was defeated and captured. He
was spared by Caesar after vowing not to take up arms again. Undaunted by his oath, Afranius went to