In 474, a Roman emperor was forced to trade his crown for a church
In a rare moment of political survival, the Western Roman Emperor Glycerius avoided execution in 474 by trading his imperial throne for a bishop's robes after being cornered by a rival claimant.
Glycerius became the Western Roman Emperor during a period of extreme instability. Lacking recognition from the Eastern Empire in Constantinople, he faced an invasion by Julius Nepos. Rather than fighting a losing battle, Glycerius was forced to abdicate the throne in June 474.
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