Placidianus
Encyclopedia
Iulius Placidianus was a Roman general of the 3rd century. He was a professional soldier who advanced his career under Gallienus and survived into the age of Claudius II
and Aurelian
. The account of him rehearsed here is largely derived from L.L. Howe’s history of the Praetorian Prefecture.
and based in southern Gaul and the second is datable to the early years of Aurelian
's rule when he was acting as Praetorian Prefect
. The fasti
name him as Consul
with Aurelian in 273.
, Iulius, may indicate a Gallic origin as many Gallic families became Roman citizens under the patronage of the Julio-Claudian Emperors. However, in the two centuries since the death of the last of the Julio-Caludians, Claudius
they could well have become much more widely dispersed. His cognomen
, i.e. Placidianus, is not sufficiently common to suggest any geographical focus for those choosing it His date of birth is not known.
- under Claudius II in 269. As Claudius had been so closely associated with Gallienus it is likely that Placidianus too had been a rising star in that Emperor’s military entourage. He must, therefore, have been born with or acquired equestrian status as Gallienus began the policy of excluding senators from military commands. Claudius apparently valued him sufficiently to use him in a very sensitive posting.
That he could be Prefect of the Watch while commanding an army detachment against the Gallic Empire (or, more improbably, the Goths) in southern Gaul supports the notion that high-flying army officers might be rewarded by appointments to offices in the Roman garrison while their substantive postings were elsewhere in the Empire.
Whatever Placidianus' mandate in Gaul it did not include taking direct action against the 'Gallic Empire' for it was during his watch that the Gallic Emperor Victorinus
took and sacked the city of Augustodunum (Autun) which had declared for Claudius without Placidianus making any move to relieve it. At this time Claudius, who was fully engaged either in Italy against the Alamanni
or in the Balkans against the Goths
in the Balkans, did not wish to open a second theatre of operations in Gaul, which would not only have involved a major military effort, but would also have required Claudius to assume responsibility for the defense of the Rhine frontier had he been successful. Against this Placidianus is credited with suppressing a potentially dangerous revolt by Domitianus
in the region south of Lake Geneva in 271
Aurelian
appointed Placidianus Praetorian Prefect
on or soon after his accession. It is not known if he directly succeeded Aurelius Heraclianus who had been Gallienus's last praetorian prefect and one of the leading lights of the plot to murder him. It is likely that Placidianus was still in Gaul when he was promoted. Howe thinks he remained Praetorian Prefect until Aurelian’s death. In 273 he served as Consul with Aurelian.
Nothing is known of his career after the death of Aurelian in 275.
Claudius II
Claudius II , commonly known as Claudius Gothicus, was Roman Emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alamanni and scored a crushing victory against the Goths at the Battle of Naissus. He died after succumbing to a smallpox plague that ravaged the provinces of...
and Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
. The account of him rehearsed here is largely derived from L.L. Howe’s history of the Praetorian Prefecture.
Sources
There are two inscriptions relating to Placidianus, both from Gaul. The first dates from 269 in which he is Praefectus Vigilium (i.e. Prefect of the Roman Watch), but commanding an army detachment against the Gallic EmpireGallic 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....
and based in southern Gaul and the second is datable to the early years of Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
's rule when he was acting as 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...
. The fasti
Fasti
In ancient Rome, the fasti were chronological or calendar-based lists, or other diachronic records or plans of official and religiously sanctioned events...
name him as Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
with Aurelian in 273.
Origins
Placidianus' nomenRoman naming conventions
By the Republican era and throughout the Imperial era, a name in ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts : praenomen , nomen and cognomen...
, Iulius, may indicate a Gallic origin as many Gallic families became Roman citizens under the patronage of the Julio-Claudian Emperors. However, in the two centuries since the death of the last of the Julio-Caludians, Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
they could well have become much more widely dispersed. His cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
, i.e. Placidianus, is not sufficiently common to suggest any geographical focus for those choosing it His date of birth is not known.
Career
Placidianus is first encountered as Prefect of the Roman Watch - see VigilesVigiles
The Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani or Cohortes Vigilum were the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome.-History:...
- under Claudius II in 269. As Claudius had been so closely associated with Gallienus it is likely that Placidianus too had been a rising star in that Emperor’s military entourage. He must, therefore, have been born with or acquired equestrian status as Gallienus began the policy of excluding senators from military commands. Claudius apparently valued him sufficiently to use him in a very sensitive posting.
That he could be Prefect of the Watch while commanding an army detachment against the Gallic Empire (or, more improbably, the Goths) in southern Gaul supports the notion that high-flying army officers might be rewarded by appointments to offices in the Roman garrison while their substantive postings were elsewhere in the Empire.
Whatever Placidianus' mandate in Gaul it did not include taking direct action against the 'Gallic Empire' for it was during his watch that the Gallic Emperor 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:...
took and sacked the city of Augustodunum (Autun) which had declared for Claudius without Placidianus making any move to relieve it. At this time Claudius, who was fully engaged either in Italy against the Alamanni
Alamanni
The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Rhine river . One of the earliest references to them is the cognomen Alamannicus assumed by Roman Emperor Caracalla, who ruled the Roman Empire from 211 to 217 and claimed thereby to be...
or in the Balkans against the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
in the Balkans, did not wish to open a second theatre of operations in Gaul, which would not only have involved a major military effort, but would also have required Claudius to assume responsibility for the defense of the Rhine frontier had he been successful. Against this Placidianus is credited with suppressing a potentially dangerous revolt by Domitianus
Domitianus
-Introduction:Domitianus was probably a Roman soldier of the mid-third century AD who was acclaimed Emperor, probably in northern Gaul, in late 270 or early 271 AD and struck coins to advertise his elevation...
in the region south of Lake Geneva in 271
Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
appointed Placidianus 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...
on or soon after his accession. It is not known if he directly succeeded Aurelius Heraclianus who had been Gallienus's last praetorian prefect and one of the leading lights of the plot to murder him. It is likely that Placidianus was still in Gaul when he was promoted. Howe thinks he remained Praetorian Prefect until Aurelian’s death. In 273 he served as Consul with Aurelian.
Nothing is known of his career after the death of Aurelian in 275.