Last Roman Emperor, also known as Last World Emperor or Emperor of the Last Days, is a figure of medieval European legend, which developed as an aspect of

Christian eschatology Christian eschatology is a minor branch of study within Christian theology which deals with the doctrine of the "last things", especially the Second Coming of Christ, or Parousia. The word eschatology derives from two Greek roots meaning "last ...

. The legend predicts that in the end times, a last emperor would appear on earth to reestablish the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...

and assume his function as biblical katechon who stalls the coming of the

Antichrist In Christian eschatology, Antichrist (or in broader eschatology, Anti-Messiah) refers to a kind of entity prophesied by the Bible to oppose Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ and falsely substitute themselves as a savior in Christ's place before ...

. The legend first appears in the 7th-century apocalyptic text known as the '' Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius''; that and the oracles of the Tiburtine Sibyl are its two most important sources. It developed over the centuries, becoming particularly prominent in the 15th century. The notion of Great Catholic Monarch is related to it.

Foundations

The legend is based on the '' Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius'', which was, after the

Book of Daniel The Book of Daniel is a 2nd-century BC biblical apocalypse with a 6th-century BC setting. It is ostensibly a narrative detailing the experiences and Prophecy, prophetic visions of Daniel, a Jewish Babylonian captivity, exile in Babylon ...

and the

Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation, also known as the Book of the Apocalypse or the Apocalypse of John, is the final book of the New Testament, and therefore the final book of the Bible#Christian Bible, Christian Bible. Written in Greek language, Greek, ...

, "the most widespread apocalypse story in Europe". The work proposes a Last Emperor who will fight against religious enemies, most notably the then-recent spread of

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

during the

Early Muslim conquests The early Muslim conquests or early Islamic conquests (), also known as the Arab conquests, were initiated in the 7th century by Muhammad, the founder of Islam. He established the first Islamic state in Medina, Arabian Peninsula, Arabia that ...

: he will "go forth against them he enemies of the faithfrom the Ethiopian sea and will send the sword and desolation into Ethribus their homeland, capturing their women and children living in the Land of Promise". After conquering his enemies he would travel to Jerusalem and relinquish his power on the Mount of Olives. The Last Emperor was further developed in the writings of Adso of Montier-en-Der, whose ''Libellus de Antichristo'' (ca. 954) was a popular biography of the Antichrist, whose coming was preceded by the rise of a Frankish ruler (the continuation of the Roman Empire); this Last Emperor would voluntarily give up his power and die, after which the Antichrist comes to power. Another important impetus came from the oracles of the Tiburtine Sibyl, first recorded in Latin around the year 1000; its legend proved particularly adaptable to rulers all over Europe, containing as it did a list of emperors and kings leading up to the Last Emperor which could be revised or added to as political and dynastic circumstances required. It still had great currency in the fifteenth century.

Catholic tradition

The concept of the Great King features prominently in mystical and folk traditions, as well as writings of people thought to have been granted gifts of prophecy or special visitations by messengers from heaven (such as

angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...

saints In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Orth ...

, or Christ). The Great Catholic Monarch was very popular in folklore until the 18th century Enlightenment. He reappeared in 19th century prophecy when French

legitimists The Legitimists () are royalists who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession to the French crown of the descendants of the eldest branch of the House of Bourbon, Bourbon dynasty, which was overthrown in the 1830 July Revolution. They reject ...

believed that

Henri, Count of Chambord Henri, Count of Chambord and Duke of Bordeaux (; 29 September 1820 – 24 August 1883), was the Legitimist pretender to the throne of France as Henri V from 1844 until his death in 1883. Henri was the only son of Charles Ferdinand, Duke ...

, would be the new king. Marie-Julie Jahenny (1850–1941), also known as the "Breton" stigmatist, prophesied that Henry V, the Count of Chambord, was the chosen King. Despite his death, one of her predictions dated 1890 declares he is yet "reserved for the great epochs", i.e. the end of time. An 1871 book, ''Future Career of Napoleon'', advocated

Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of the French from 1852 until his deposition in 1870. He was the first president, second emperor, and last ...

's reign as Roman Emperor over a 'new ten-kingdomed Roman Empire'. The

Catechism of the Catholic Church The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' (; commonly called the ''Catechism'' or the ''CCC'') is a reference work that summarizes the Catholic Church's doctrine. It was Promulgation (Catholic canon law), promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992 ...

speaks only of Christ as the king who is to be manifested in "the last days". It speaks of this manifestation as associated by his recognition by "all Israel" and preceded by the Church's ultimate trial, "a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh". It makes no mention of the coming of any Great Catholic Monarch, whether French or German or of any continent. The French writer and

Traditionalist Catholic Traditionalist Catholicism is a movement that emphasizes beliefs, practices, customs, traditions, liturgical forms, devotions and presentations of teaching associated with the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). ...

Yves Dupont has opined that the Great Monarch will have a restorationist character and that he will restore European Catholic royalty, destroy the power of heretics and atheists, and successfully convert many

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

s and

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

s to the Faith.With reference to the Judeo-Masonic plot. See ''Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement'' by Yves Dupont 1970; Rockford IL: TAN Books and Publishers, 1973. As quoted i
''Rewriting the Future: The story of the modern Catholic scenario for the End Times''
'' Catholic World Report'', December 14, 2019.

References

Bibliography

* S.N., '' Mirabilis Liber'', 1522 * Baethgen, Friedrich, ''Der Engelpapst: Vortrag gehalten am 15. Januar 1933 in öffentlicher Sitzung der Königsberger Gelehrten Gesellschaft'', M. Niemeyer, Halle (Saale), 1933 OCLC 9819016 * Alexander, Paul J., ''Byzantium and the Migration of Literary Works and Motifs: The Legend of the Last Roman Emperor'', in Medievalia et Humanistica, NS 2 (1971), p. 47 ISSN ... * Muraise, Eric, ''Histoire et légende du grand monarque'', Albin Michel, Paris, 1975 * Alexander, Paul J., ''The Medieval Legend of the Last Roman Emperor and Its Messianic Origin'', Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 41 (1978), pp. 1–15 ISSN ... * Marquis de la Franquerie de la Tour, André Lesage, ''Le Saint Pape et le grand monarque d'après les prophéties'', Editions de Chiré, Chiré-en-Montreuil, 1980 ISBN ... * Bertin, Francis, ''La révolution et la parousie du grand monarque'', in Politica Hermetica, 3 (1989), pp. ... ISSN ... * Birch, Desmond A., ''Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before, During, and After Antichrist'', Queenship Publishing Company, ..., 1997 * Möhring, Hannes, ''Der Weltkaiser der Endzeit'', Jan Thorbecke Verlag, Stuttgart, 1999 * Otto, Helen Tzima, ''The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies'', The Verenikia Press, Rock Hill, 2000 * Gabriele, Matthew, ''An Empire of Memory: The Legend of Charlemagne, the Franks, and Jerusalem before the First Crusade'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011 * Rubenstein, Jay, ''Armies of Heaven: The First Crusade and the Quest for Apocalypse'', Basic Books, 2011 {{Imperial and royal styles Monarchy Traditionalist Catholicism Christian eschatology Medieval legends Mythological kings Styles (forms of address) Henri, Count of Chambord Napoleon III 7th-century works

Foundations

Catholic tradition

See also

References

Bibliography