- Silbannacus
Infobox Roman emperor
name =Silbannacus
full name = Mar. Silbannacus
title =Usurper of theRoman Empire
caption =
reign =sometime during reign ofPhilip the Arab , 244-249
or in 253
predecessor =
successor =|Mar. Silbannacus is a mysterious figure believed to have been an usurper in the
Roman Empire during the time ofPhilip the Arab (244-249), or between the fall ofAemilianus and the rise to power of Valerian.Silbannacus had been known only from a single coin, an
antoninianus reputedly found in Lorraine, and is now at theBritish Museum . This coin has an obverse with the portraint of the usurper and the legend IMP MAR SILBANNACVS AVG, the reverse shows Mercury holding a Victoria and a "caduceus ", with VICTORIA AVG as legend.The name Silbannacus shows a
Celt ic origin, the "-acus" suffix; given the location of the coin, Silbannacus could have been a military commander inGermania Superior . It is possible he revolted against Philip, with his revolt ending under EmperorDecius , sinceEutropius (ix.4) reports of a "bellum civile" suppressed in Gaul during this emperor rule.A second antoninianus has been published in 1996, bearing the shortened legend MARTI PROPVGT . According to the style, the coin was coined in Rome; since the shortened legend is present on
Aemilianus coins, in 253, Silbannacus might have prevailed here during the march of Valerian on Rome. An interpretation of this facts leads to Silbannacus being an officer who was left in garrison in Rome while his emperor, Aemilianus, left to face his rival Valerian. After the defeat and the death of Aemilianus in September 253, Silbannacus would have tried to become emperor with the support of the troops confined in Rome, thus controlling the monetary workshop, before being quickly eliminated by Valerian and Gallienus. [Estiot, Sylviane, "L'empereur Silbannacus. Un second antoninien", in "Revue numismatique", 151, 1996, pp. 105-117 [http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensionen/AG-2002-027] [http://www.empereurs-romains.net/empret27a.htm#11] ]References
* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/philarab.htm#Note%204 Körner, Christian, "Silbannacus", s.v. "Rebellions During the reign of Phillip the Arab (244-249 A.D.): Iotapianus, Pacatianus, Silbannacus, and Sponsianus", in "DIR" (1999).]External links
* [http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/natto/id/sil.htm Picture and description of the first coin of Silbannacus, at "Dirty Old Coins"]
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