- Florianus
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Florianus 46th Emperor of the Roman Empire 
Aureus of Emperor Florian.Reign 276 Full name Marcus Annius Florianus (from birth to accession);
Caesar Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus (as emperor)Died 276 Place of death Tarsus, Cilicia[1] Predecessor Tacitus Successor Probus Florianus (Latin: Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus;[2] died 276), also known as Florian, was Roman Emperor for a few months in 276.
Contents
Biography
Florian was reportedly a maternal half-brother to the Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus.[4] Appointed Praetorian Prefect in Tacitus's army in his campaign against the Goths,[5] according to the available sources, he was chosen by the army in the West to succeed Tacitus in 276, without the Roman Senate consensus.[6] However he minted coins bearing the "SC" legend, thus showing some bonds to the Senate.[7]
He was fighting against the Heruli when the army in the East elected Probus.[8] He had the support of Italia, Gaul, Hispania, Britain, Africa, and Mauretania.[9] The two rival emperors met in battle in Cilicia. Florianus had the larger army, but Probus was a more experienced general, and avoided a direct clash.[10] Florian's western army was unused to the dry and hot eastern climate[11] and Probus likely secured a small victory, and Florian was assassinated by his own troops near Tarsus once their confidence was lost.[12] Florianus died in September 276, having been emperor for only eighty-eight days.[13]
Sources
Primary sources
- Aurelius Victor, "Epitome de Caesaribus", English version of Epitome de Caesaribus
- Historia Augusta, Vita Taciti, English version of Historia Augusta
- Eutropius, Breviarium ab urbe condita, ix. 16, English version of Breviarium ab Urbe Condita
- Joannes Zonaras, Compendium of History extract: Zonaras: Alexander Severus to Diocletian: 222–284
- Zosimus, "Historia Nova", Historia Nova
Secondary sources
- Mc Mahon, Robin, "Florian (276.D.)", De Imperatoribus Romanis, (2000)
- Jones, A.H.M., Martindale, J.R. The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. I: AD260-395, Cambridge University Press, 1971
- Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine, Routledge, 2001
- Canduci, Alexander (2010), Triumph & Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Immortal Emperors, Pier 9, ISBN 978-1741965988
- Gibbon. Edward Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire (1888)
References
- ^ Canduci, pg. 101
- ^ Jones, pg. 367
- ^ This coin celebrates the AETERNITAS AVG, the eternal life of the emperor. However, Florianus ruled only eighty-eight days.
- ^ Historia Augusta, Vita Taciti, 17:4
- ^ Jones, pg. 367
- ^ Southern, pg. 127
- ^ McMahon, www.roman-emperors.org/florian.htm
- ^ Historia Augusta, Vita Probi, 10:1
- ^ Southern, pg. 127
- ^ Gibbon, Ch. 12
- ^ Southern, pg. 128
- ^ McMahon, www.roman-emperors.org/florian.htm
- ^ Canduci, pg. 101
External links
Media related to Florianus at Wikimedia CommonsRegnal titles Preceded by
Marcus Claudius TacitusRoman Emperor
276Succeeded by
ProbusCategories:- 3rd-century Roman emperors
- Crisis of the Third Century
- Annii
- Murdered Roman emperors
- 276 deaths
- Praetorian prefects
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