- Firmus
:"For the 4th century Roman usurper under Valentinian I, see
Firmus (4th century usurper) . For the saint and martyr, seeSaint Firmus and Saint Rusticus . For the energy company, seefirmus energy "Firmus (died 273) was a
Roman usurper againstAurelian . His story is told by the often unreliable "Historia Augusta " twice, with the first account the most sketchy and reliable.Life of the historical Firmus
Firmus was a businessman from Seleucia and his business interests ranged from India to Egypt. He was associated with
Zenobia ofPalmyrene Empire . After Emperor Aurelian defeated the Palmyrans, Firmus staged an uprising inAlexandria inEgypt , interrupting the fundamental corn supply to Rome. Aurelian was obliged to defeat and kill Firmus.Firmus never proclaimed himself emperor, [The unreliable "Historia Augusta" supports this position in "Aurelianus", but instead claims Firmus made himself emperor in "Firmus".] but fought to support the second Palmyrene uprise against Aurelian. It is possible that Firmus was actually the name of the general sent by Aurelian to suppress the revolt, as Egyptian papiri of the time have the presence of some Claudius Firmus, "
corrector ". Another possibility is that the author of the "Historia Augusta " — the only source to name Firmus — invented this figure in parallel with another Firmus, an African usurper underValentinian I .Historia Augusta account
According to "
Historia Augusta " ("Firmus"), Firmus was of great wealth. He had his house fitted with square panels of glass, and owned a huge library. His commercial relationships involvedBlemmyes ,Saracens , and India. He had two elephant-tusks, which later Aurelian projected to use as a basis for a statue to Jupiter and which were actually given as a present byCarinus to a lover of his. Physically, Firmus was noteworthy, being huge and very strong. He ate and drank a lot.Even in this account, however, the importance and threat of Firmus revolt is related to the interruption of grain supply to Rome, caused by this rebellion in the very granary of Rome, Egypt.
Notes
References
Primary sources
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Firmus_et_al*.html "Firmus Saturninus Proclus et Bonosus" 3-6] , "
Historia Augusta "
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Aurelian/2*.html#32.2 "Aurelianus" xxxii.2‑3] , "Historia Augusta '*
Zosimus i.61.1Secondary sources
* "Firmus", s.v. [http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm "Aurelian"] , "De Imperatoribus Romanis" site
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