Last Roman Emperor
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The legend of the Last Roman Emperor or Last World Emperor developed in medieval Europe, as an aspect of Christian eschatology. It predicted that in the last times, a last emperor would appear on earth. It therefore does not refer to Romulus Augustus, recognized as the last of the emperors of the Western Roman Empire, or to Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last emperor of the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
The legend is based on the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius. It was developed in the writings of Adso, and was particularly current around the end of the fifteenth century[1]. Christopher Columbus refers to it in his Book of Prophecies.
[edit] References
- Paul J. Alexander, Byzantium and the Mirgration of Literary Works and Motifs: The Legend of the Last Roman Emperor, in: Medievalia et Humanistica NS 2, 1971, p. 47
- Paul J. Alexander, The Medieval Legend of the Last Roman Emperor and Its Messianic Origin, Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Vol. 41, 1978 (1978), pp. 1-15
