Optila (fl. 455 AD) was either aHun or a Goth bodyguard[1] working for generalAetius and later for Roman EmperorValentinian III. He is best known for being the assassin of Valentinian III, himself the assassin of Aetius.[2][3]
He initially served asbucellarius and was later promoted to the imperial guard.[1] In September 454, Emperor Valentinian killed with his own handsAetius inRavenna, while the latter was delivering a financial account. With the death of Aetius,Petronius Maximus looked forward to being made patrician in place of Aetius. However, he was blocked by the eunuchHeraclius. Thus Maximus arranged with Optila andThraustila, both Aetius' former bodyguards, for the assassination of both Heraclius and emperor Valentinian. Optila stabbed the emperor to death on 16 March 455, as he was dismounting inCampus Martius in preparation for a session of archery practice. Meanwhile, Thraustila killed Heraclius.[4]