ThewidowofValentinian，Eudoxia，whomhehadledcaptivefromRometoCarthage，wasthesoleheiressoftheTheodosianhouse；
herelderdaughter，Eudocia，becamethereluctantwifeofHunneric，hiseldestson；andthesternfather，assertingalegalclaim，whichcouldnoteasilyberefutedorsatisfied，demandedajustproportionoftheImperialpatrimony。Anadequate，oratleastavaluable，compensation，wasofferedbytheEasternemperor，topurchaseanecessarypeace。Eudoxiaandheryoungerdaughter，Placidia，werehonorablyrestored，andthefuryoftheVandalswasconfinedtothelimitsoftheWesternempire。TheItalians，destituteofanavalforce，whichalonewascapableofprotectingtheircoasts，imploredtheaidofthemorefortunatenationsoftheEast；whohadformerlyacknowledged，inpeaceandwar，thesupremacyofRome。Buttheperpetualdivisionsofthetwoempireshadalienatedtheirinterestandtheirinclinations；
thefaithofarecenttreatywasalleged；andtheWesternRomans，insteadofarmsandships，couldonlyobtaintheassistanceofacoldandineffectualmediation。ThehaughtyRicimer，whohadlongstruggledwiththedifficultiesofhissituation，wasatlengthreducedtoaddressthethroneofConstantinople，inthehumblelanguageofasubject；andItalysubmitted，asthepriceandsecuritytoacceptamasterfromthechoiceoftheemperoroftheEast。^63Itisnotthepurposeofthepresentchapter，orevenofthepresentvolume，tocontinuethedistinctseriesoftheByzantinehistory；butaconciseviewofthereignandcharacteroftheemperorLeo，mayexplainthelasteffortsthatwereattemptedtosavethefallingempireoftheWest。^64
[Footnote63:ThepoethimselfiscompelledtoacknowledgethedistressofRicimer:—
PraetereainvictusRicimer，quempublicafataRespiciunt，propriosolasvixMarterepellitPiratamperruravagum。