Quartinus
Encyclopedia
Quartinus was a Roman usurper
.
After the death of Alexander Severus
and the usurpation of Maximinus Thrax
a company of archers from Osrhoene, in Mesopotamia
, proclaimed Quartinus, a former provincial governor and friend of Alexander, emperor
, purportedly against his own will. Those archers were led by Macedo and claimed to want revenge for Alexander's death. Quartinus himself was dismissed from the army by Maximinus after Alexander's death.
But later, Macedo betrayed Quartinus, killed him, and presented his head to Maximinus. Maximinus had Macedo executed nevertheless.
Quartinus story was written down by historian
Herodianus. No other independent source mentions him, however, and thus some scholars believe Quartinus is purely an invention of Herodianus.
Roman usurper
Usurpers are individuals or groups of individuals who obtain and maintain the power or rights of another by force and without legal authority. Usurpation was endemic during roman imperial era, especially from the crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule.The...
.
After the death of Alexander Severus
Alexander Severus
Severus Alexander was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty...
and the usurpation of Maximinus Thrax
Maximinus Thrax
Maximinus Thrax , also known as Maximinus I, was Roman Emperor from 235 to 238.Maximinus is described by several ancient sources, though none are contemporary except Herodian's Roman History. Maximinus was the first emperor never to set foot in Rome...
a company of archers from Osrhoene, in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
, proclaimed Quartinus, a former provincial governor and friend of Alexander, emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
, purportedly against his own will. Those archers were led by Macedo and claimed to want revenge for Alexander's death. Quartinus himself was dismissed from the army by Maximinus after Alexander's death.
But later, Macedo betrayed Quartinus, killed him, and presented his head to Maximinus. Maximinus had Macedo executed nevertheless.
Quartinus story was written down by historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Herodianus. No other independent source mentions him, however, and thus some scholars believe Quartinus is purely an invention of Herodianus.