Marcus Aurelius Marius
Encyclopedia
Marcus Aurelius Marius was emperor of the Gallic Empire
in 269 following the assassination of Postumus
.
by trade who rose through the ranks of the Roman army
to become an officer. He was present with the army that revolted at Moguntiacum
after the emperor Postumus refused to allow it to sack the city. They murdered the emperor and in the confusion that followed, the army elected Marius to succeed Postumus.
His first decision was in all likelihood to allow his troops to sack the city of Moguntiacum. Seeking to solidify his power base, he then moved to Augusta Treverorum
. His reign lasted no more than two or three months before Postumus’ praetorian prefect
Victorinus
had Marius killed in the middle of 269, most likely at Augusta Treverorum
According to the ancient written sources, Marius’ reign lasted for two or three days only, before being killed by a sword
of his own manufacture. This tradition is probably partially or entirely incorrect. Based upon the number of coins
he issued, a more accurate length for his reign would be at least two or three months.
Marius is listed among the Thirty Tyrants
in the Historia Augusta. It is said that he was chosen because his names were evocative of two great Romans of the Past, Marcus Aurelius and Gaius Marius
.
Gallic Empire
The Gallic Empire is the modern name for a breakaway realm that existed from 260 to 274. It originated during the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century....
in 269 following the assassination of Postumus
Postumus
Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus was a Roman emperor of Batavian origin. He usurped power from Gallienus in 260 and formed the so-called Gallic Empire...
.
Reign
According to later tradition, he was a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
by trade who rose through the ranks of the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
to become an officer. He was present with the army that revolted at Moguntiacum
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
after the emperor Postumus refused to allow it to sack the city. They murdered the emperor and in the confusion that followed, the army elected Marius to succeed Postumus.
His first decision was in all likelihood to allow his troops to sack the city of Moguntiacum. Seeking to solidify his power base, he then moved to Augusta Treverorum
History of Trier
Trier in Rhineland-Palatinate, whose history dates to the Roman Empire, is often claimed to be the oldest city in Germany. Traditionally it was known in English by its French name of Treves.- Prehistory :...
. His reign lasted no more than two or three months before Postumus’ praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
Victorinus
Victorinus
Marcus Piavonius Victorinus was emperor of the secessionist Gallic Empire from 269 to 271, following the brief reign of Marius. He was murdered by a jealous husband whose wife he tried to seduce.-Reign:...
had Marius killed in the middle of 269, most likely at Augusta Treverorum
According to the ancient written sources, Marius’ reign lasted for two or three days only, before being killed by a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
of his own manufacture. This tradition is probably partially or entirely incorrect. Based upon the number of coins
Roman currency
The Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus , the denarius , the sestertius , the dupondius , and the as...
he issued, a more accurate length for his reign would be at least two or three months.
Marius is listed among the Thirty Tyrants
Thirty Tyrants (Roman)
The Thirty Tyrants were a series of thirty rulers that appear in the Historia Augusta as having ostensibly been pretenders to the throne of the Roman Empire during the reign of the emperor Gallienus....
in the Historia Augusta. It is said that he was chosen because his names were evocative of two great Romans of the Past, Marcus Aurelius and Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
.
Primary Sources
- Aurelius VictorAurelius VictorSextus Aurelius Victor was a historian and politician of the Roman Empire.Aurelius Victor was the author of a History of Rome from Augustus to Julian , published ca. 361. Julian honoured him and appointed him prefect of Pannonia Secunda...
, Epitome de Caesaribus - Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus
- EutropiusEutropiusFlavius Eutropius was an Ancient Roman historian who flourished in the latter half of the 4th century. He held the office of secretary at Constantinople, accompanied the Emperor Julian on his expedition against the Persians , and was alive during the reign of Valens , to whom he dedicates his...
, Brevarium, Book 9 - Historia Augusta, Tyranni_XXX*.html The Thirty Tyrants
Secondary Sources
- Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine, Routledge, 2001
- Potter, David Stone, The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180-395, Routledge, 2004
- Jones, A.H.M., Martindale, J.R. The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. I: AD260-395, Cambridge University Press, 1971
- http://www.roman-emperors.org/marius.htm Polfer, Michel, "Postumus (A.D. 269)", De Imperatoribus Romanis] (1999)