Trebonianus Gallus

Infobox Roman emperor
title=Emperor of the Roman Empire
name=Trebonianus Gallus
full name =Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus
(from birth to accession);
Caesar Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus Augustus (as emperor)


caption =Trebonianus Gallus on a
coin celebrating Aeternitas.
reign =251 (with Volusianus and Hostilian);
251 - 3 (with Volusianus)
predecessor =Decius and Herennius Etruscus
successor =Aemilianus
spouse 1 =Afinia Gemina Baebiana
spouse 2 =
issue =Gaius Vibius Volusianus, Vibia Galla
dynasty =
father =Senatorial family
mother =
date of birth =206
place of birth =Italy
date of death =August 253
place of death =Interamna
place of burial =|

Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 - August, 253), was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253, in a joint rule with his son Volusianus.

Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of Etruscan senatorial background. He had two children in his marriage with Afinia Gemina Baebiana: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. His early career was typical with several appointments, both political and military. He was suffect consul and in 250 was nominated governor of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, an appointment that showed the confidence of emperor Trajan Decius in him. In Moesia, Gallus was a key figure in repelling the frequent invasion attacks by the Gothic tribes of the Danube and became popular with the army.

In June 251, Decius and his co-emperor and son Herennius Etruscus died in the Battle of Abrittus, at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire, largely owing to the failure of Gallus to attack aggressively. When the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite Hostilian, Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. While Gallus marched on Rome, an outbreak of plague struck the city and killed young Hostilian. With absolute power now on his hands, Gallus nominated his son Volusianus co-emperor.

Eager to show himself competent and gain popularity with the citizens, Gallus swiftly dealt with the epidemic, providing burial for the victims. Gallus is often accused of persecuting the Christians, but the only solid evidence of this allegation is the imprisoning of Pope Cornelius in 252.

Like his predecessors, Gallus did not have an easy reign. In the East, Persian Emperor Shapur I invaded and conquered the province of Syria, without any response from Rome. On the Danube, the Gothic tribes were once again on the loose, despite the peace treaty signed in 251. The army was not pleased with the emperor and when Aemilianus, governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia, took the initiative of battle and defeated the Goths, the soldiers proclaimed him emperor. With a usurper threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for a fight. He recalled several legions and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from the Rhine frontier. Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched onto Italy ready to fight for his claim. Gallus did not have the chance to face him in battle: he and Volusianus were murdered by their own troops in August 253, in Interamna.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ropo/hod_05.30_05.47.htm Metropolitan Museum of Art: Bronze of Trebonianus Gallus] s-ttl | title=Roman Emperor
years=251–253
alongside=Hostilian (251) and Volusianus (251–253)