Pertinax – Carus: First Exam Content

Accession, relationships, general location, death, and significant notes for each emperor from Pertinax until Carus

How did Pertinax become emperor?

• appointed by Praetorian Guard and Senate due to experience

• some senators doubted him due to his father being a freedman

To whom was Pertinax related?

• married to Flavia Titiana (not made augusta)

Where did Pertinax travel during his reign?

• N/A → died too quick to do much

How did Pertinax die?

• killed by some of his bodyguard

• caused by discontent → guards had tried to have him removed twice already

What was notable about Pertinax?

• first emperor to be removed purely for military discontent → Senate liked him

• acted humble → did not bestow any titles or have his name inscribed

How did Didius Julianus become emperor?

• supposed ‘auction of the empire’ between him and Sulpicianus

• pays off the Praetorians 25,000 sesterces each

To whom was Didius Julianus related?

• married to Manlia Scantilla

• daughter Didia Clara

Where did Didius Julianus travel during his reign?

• N/A → dies too quickly

How does Didius Julianus die?

• put to death by Senate after only ~3 months

• “doomed by the manner of accession”

What was notable about Didius Julianus?

• revolt took place at the Circus Maximus

• Julianus tried to ask the Senate to give Severus a part of imperial power → how he completely lost their confidance

How did Septimius Severus become emperor?

• proclaimed by troops in Pannonia → marched to Rome

• Senate puts Julianus to death and makes Severus emperor

• also deifies Pertinax

To whom was Septimius Severus related?

• married to Julia Domna → first person to get title pia felix augusta

• sons Caracalla and Geta

• also related to Elagabalus and Severus Alexander

Where does Septimius Severus travel during his reign?

• W/C/E → Britannia, conquest of Parthia, Pannonia

How does Septimius Severus die?

• dies of illness at York

What was notable about Septimius Severus?

• dissolved the Praetorian Guard and replaced them with his own soldiers

• permanently stations legion in Italy for first time

• marks the beginning of the decline of SPQR and rise of army

How did Geta and Caracalla become emperors?

• Severus dies and leaves the empire to both of them

• Julia Domna tries to keep the power between them → stops Caracalla from splitting between east and west

• Caracalla has Geta murdered in Julia Domna’s quarters and purges all of his supporters

To whom was Caracalla related?

• married to Fulvia Plautilla

• brother to Geta

• mother Julia Domna

• cousins Elagabalus and Severus Alexander

Where did Caracalla travel during his reign?

• W/C/E → Britannia, Agri Decumates, Danube, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia

How does Caracalla die?

• Macrinus hires Matialis to kill Caracalla near Carrhae

• Martialis is immediately killed as a result → Macrinus’ involvement is not revealed

What was notable about Caracalla?

• constitutio antoniniana → granted citizenship to all of empire

• flagrant disrespect of the Senate → showing that he doesn’t need them for his power because he has the army

• massacres Alexandria

• puts Julia Domna in charge of all of his correspondances while he campaigns → she is very involved in the empire, even coming with him to the east

How did Macrinus become emperor?

• murders Caracalla in Carrhae by hiring Martialis

• exploits the troops’ fear and the power vacuum to seize power

To whom was Macrinus related?

• son Diadumenian → co-augustus; is a child

Where did Macrinus travel during his reign?

• E → Parthia, then faces supporters of Elagabalus near Antioch

How did Macrinus die?

• killed in Cappadocia by guards while trying to escape from Antioch

What was notable about Macrinus?

• first emperor to never visit Rome

• during reign Julia Domna dies of cancer/self-starvation → increases sympathy for the Severans

How did Elagabalus become emperor?

• led a revolt starting in Emesa that ended with Macrinus’ defeat at Antioch

To whom was Elagabalus related?

• mother Julia Soaemias, who is the niece of Julia Domna

• claimed to be illegitimate son of Caracalla

• cousin Severus Alexander → adopts Alexander

Where does Elagabalus travel during his reign?

• N/A → just stays in Rome, which is part of the reason why people didn’t like him

How did Elagabalus die?

• killed by troops after ordering them to move on Severus Alexander

• Julia Soaemias is also killed

What is notable about Elagabalus?

• disliked → people found him weird

• featured the eastern cult heavily, placing it above titles like pontifex maximus → un-diplomatic

• relied on his family, particularly Julia Soaemias, to do the actual ruling

How did Severus Alexander become emperor?

• familial rift leads to the death of Elagabalus and Julia Soaemias

• becomes emperor at 13

To whom was Severus Alexander related?

• mother Julia Mamaea, niece of Julia Domna

• adopted by Elagabalus

Where did Severus Alexander travel during his reign?

• W/E → Rhine, Persians (end of Parthians)

How did Severus Alexander die?

• killed on order of Maximinus during revolt

What is notable about Severus Alexander?

• claimed hollow victory over the Persians → army’s distrust from knowing he didn’t earn it

• most of ruling actually done by Julia Mamaea → Alexander seen as subservient

• death marks beginning of crisis and end of Severan dynasty

How did Maximinus Thrax become emperor?

• declared in Pannonia and revolts against Severus Alexander

• orders death of Alexander and Julia Mamaea

• becomes emperor, but never goes to Rome to be officially given titles by Senate

To whom was Maximinus Thrax related?

• son Maximus appointed caesar, but is still a child

Where does Maximinus Thrax travel during his reign?

• W/C → Rhine, Danube, but never to Rome

How did Maximinus Thrax die?

• killed by his troops while sieging Aquileia → was on his way to Rome and got angry when Aquileia refused to help him

• Maximus also killed

What is notable about Maximinus Thrax?

• first citizen-soldier emperor since Macrinus

• like Macrinus, never went to Rome

How did the Gordians (I and II) become emperors?

• declared in North Africa and accepted by the Senate

• are more appealing to senators than Maximinus Thrax → he is declared an enemy of the state

To whom were the Gordians (I and II) related?

• Gordian I was the father of Gordian II

• Gordian III was I’s grandson and II’s nephew

Where did the Gordians (I and II) travel during their reign?

• N/A → never leave Africa because they almost immediately die

How did the Gordians (I and II) die?

• within 22 days Gordian II is killed in battle

• Gordian I commits suicide

How did Pupienus and Balbinus become emperors?

• chosen from a panel put forwards by the Senate → trying to replace the Gordians before Maximinus Thrax could arrive

• are chosen for both being very senatorial (old)

Where did Pupienus and Balbinus travel during their reign?

• N/A → never leave Rome

How did Pupienus and Balbinus die?

• killed by Praetorian Guard after only 2 months

What is notable about Pupienus and Balbinus?

• re-introduce the antoninianus to some success

How did Gordian III become emperor?

• made emperor by both troops and the Senate → only augustus left after Pupienus and Balbinus die

To whom was Gordian III related?

• married to Tranquillina, the daughter of Timesetheus (PPO)

• grandson of Gordian I

• nephew of Gordian II

Where did Gordian III travel during his reign?

• C/E → Danube and Persia

How did Gordian III die?

• assassinated during campaign in Persia → killed without anyone presenting as an obvious usurper; slightly odd to kill emperor in the middle of fighting

• Philip I potentially involved in the plot

What is notable about Gordian III?

• relies on PPOs → first, Timesetheus, then after his death Philip I

• beginning of long conflict with Shapur

How did Philip I become emperor?

• takes power after Gordian III dies during campaign in Persia

• potentially involved in killing Gordian III

To whom was Philip I related?

• married to Severa

• son Philip II

Where did Philip I travel during his reign?

• C/E → Persia and Danube

How did Philip I die?

• killed when Decius marches on Rome

• Philip II also killed

What is notable about Philip I?

• paid Shapur 500,000 gold dinars for peace, also giving up Armenia

• holds Secular Games for the supposed 1000 anniversary of Rome

• neglected most of empire in favour of building his own city, which he had re-named to Philippopolis

How did Decius become emperor?

• top commander under Philip I → proclaimed emperor by troops after success against a usurper in Egypt

To whom was Decius related?

• married Herennia Etruscilla

• sons Etruscas and Hostilian

Where did Decius travel during his reign?

• C → Danube

How did Decius die?

• died in battle against the Goths on the Danube → body never found

What is notable about Decius?

• first major christian persecutions → significance of pax deorum

• early loss to Goths forces Rome to give up land → first time Goths have conquered Roman territory

How did Trebonianus Gallus become emperor?

• elected when people realise Decius is actually dead → no body, so it was difficult to know

To whom was Trebonianus related?

• married to Afinia Gemina Baebiana

• adopts Hostilian and makes him augustus, although he dies after a few months → said to be plague, but could have been murdered by Gallus

Where did Trebonianus Gallus travel during his reign?

• C → Danube; doesn’t personally go anywhere else afterwards

How did Trebonianus Gallus die?

• killed by troops when preparing to fight Aemilian → had called in reinforcements from Valerian but they were too slow

• troops defect and join Aemilian

What is notable about Trebonianus Gallus?

• Shapur causes significant damage until being pushed back by usurper

• Gallus mostly appoints people to do things for him

• two of those he appointed would be the next emperors (Aemilian and Valerian)

How did Aemilian become emperor?

• proclaimed by troops after fighting the Goths on behalf of Trebonianus Gallus

• Gallus’ troops kill him and join Aemilian → becomes emperor

To whom was Aemilian related?

• married to Cornelia Supera

Where did Aemilian travel during his reign?

• N/A → planned to go to Danube, but meets Valerian first and is killed

How did Aemilian die?

• killed by troops before he can fight Valerian

• troops then go support Valerian → same thing that had happened to Trebonianus Gallus

What is notable about Aemilian?

• only lasted 88 days

How did Valerian become emperor?

• proclaimed by the Rhine legions and fought Aemilian

• Aemilian is killed by troops who then join Valerian → becomes emperor

To whom was Valerian related?

• married to Egnatia Mariniana → not made augusta; dies and is deified and shown on coins

• son Gallienus made co-augustus, with Valerian looking after the east and Gallienus the west → actually an adult son for first time in a while

Where does Valerian travel during his reign?

• E → splits army between Constantinople and Cappadocia, sieges Carrhae and Odessa

How did Valerian die?

• captured and enslaved by Shapur while attempting to negotiate

• story that he was skinned, stuffed, and put on display to intimidate Shapur’s enemies → likely untrue

• in reality, probably remained enslaved until his natural death

What is notable about Valerian?

• christian persecution → two edicts mainly meant to get money for war

• Odenathus is put in Persia to help against Shapur

How did Gallienus become emperor?

• appointed co-augustus by Valerian and accepted by the Senate → put in charge of the west

To whom was Gallienus related?

• married to Cornelia Salonina → augusta and mater castrorum et senatus et patriae

• father Valerian

• sons Valerian II and Saloninus

Where does Gallienus travel during his reign?

• W/C → mostly on Danube and Rhine

How did Gallienus die?

• killed by own advisors under unclear circumstances in Milan → had gone to siege

What is notable about Gallienus?

• repulses the Alamanni

• under him the Goths cause significant damage in Achaea → cities sacked

• ends christian persecution after Valerian’s death and returns the money taken from the churches

• fails against Postumus → Gallic Empire established

• Odenathus defeats Shapur and becomes more like an emperor → still ruling in Gallienus’ name

How did Claudius become emperor?

• supported as emperor after Gallienus’ death

• troops still fond of Gallienus → Claudius deifies him to get on their good side

To whom was Claudius related?

• brother Quintillus

Where did Claudius travel during his reign?

• C → mainly Danube; Sirmium, Dacia, Macedonia, Moesia

How did Claudius die?

• plague

What is notable about Claudius?

• first main emperor to die of plague

• first to get Gothicus maximus → defeated Goths so well that they are absent for the rest of the century

• during reign Odenathus dies → Zenobia begins expanding Palmyra; portrays herself/Vaballathus like emperors

• Gallic empire not defeated, but Hispania leaves and rejoins Rome

How did Quintillus become emperor?

• succeeds Claudius due to his having been liked → people alright with hereditary succession

To whom was Quintillus related?

• brother is Claudius

Where did Quintillus travel during his reign?

• N/A → died too quickly

How did Quintillus die?

• committed suicide after hearing that Aurelian had been proclaimed by his troops

What is notable about Quintillus?

• made unbelievable amount of coins for just 17 days

• reign is odd → no attempt to secure power by addressing most obvious rival (Aurelian)

• similarly, Aurelian waited before trying to become emperor despite being an obvious candidate

How did Aurelian become emperor?

• proclaimed by troops shortly after Claudius’ death

• Quintillus commits suicide → becomes emperor

To whom was Aurelian related?

• married to Ulpia Severina → augusta, given title mater castrorum et senatus et patriae

Where did Aurelian travel during his reign?

• W/C/E → Danube, Persians; defeats empires of Gallia and Palmyra

How did Aurelian die?

• assassinated near Byzantium under unclear circumstances → no usurper or replacement, just killed without a plan

What is notable about Aurelian?

• officially abandons Dacia → replaces with new province Dacia aureliana

• begins construction of a new wall around Rome to protect from invaders → threat of Iuthungi

• takes down Palmyra and Gallic empire

• attempts coin reform → doesn’t work, Gresham’s law

• given title restitutor orbis, restorer of the world

How did Tacitus become emperor?

• appointed by the Senate due to nobody else being proclaimed

• very senatorial (is 75)

To whom was Tacitus related?

• adopts relative Maximinus → puts in charge of Syria