Silvanus (praetorian prefect)
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Silvanus or Albanus (according to Zonaras ) was a Roman officer of the Third Century AD who came briefly to the notice of history in the reign of Valerian
and his co-Emperor Gallienus
. He is generally assumed to have been a praetorian prefect
under Gallienus.
However, the sources only tell us that he was made the guardian of the Caesar Saloninus
by Saloninus's father, the Emperor Gallienus
. This seems likely to mean that he exercised a guiding influence over his young protegé as he represented the Imperial Dynasty in the government of the Gallic provinces. In this respect Silvanus/Albanus may be compared with Ingenuus
who seems to have exercised a similar function, in loco parentis, in the government of the Illyrian provinces by Saloninus's elder brother, the Caesar Valerian
, earlier in the 250s. He would not have been given this office had he not been a seasoned soldier and administrator, but this does not mean that he was Gallienus's Praetorian Prefect.
It was Parker who supposed that Silvanus/Albanus must have held that office(presumably serving at the same time as Successianus
who served under Valerian
). This suggestion has since been generally accepted without question by academic opinion. However, it assumes that Valerian anticipated Diocletian
in appointing (or countenancing the appointment of) such an officer to serve under his co-Emperor (Gallienus) when he (Valerian) went to Syria/Mesopotamia in 258(?) leaving Gallienus in charge in Europe, Egypt and Africa. There is no reason to suppose that such an innovatory measure would have been acceptable to Valerian who was known for his stern reverence for the old Roman constitution. Being Praetorian Prefect was not a necessary condition of being made the guardian of a Licinius Dynnasty Caesar: it has never been seriously suggested that Ingenuus
, who seems to have been similarly in loco parentis in respect of Saloninus's brother, the Caesar Valerian
in the Illyrian provinces, was so honoured.
It is not impossible to suppose that Gallienus was expected to manage without a Praetorian Prefect until after Valerian (and Successianus) were captured by Shapur I
in 260. Then Gallienus became sole Emperor, no longer subject to his father's potestas patriae and was free to appoint Volusianus (L. Petronius Taurus)
, his own man, to that position.
Praetorian Prefect or not, in 260 Silvanus/Albanus fell into dispute with Postumus
over the disposition of loot which the latter had seized from a party of German raiders in Gaul. Postumus's army, infuriated, then proclaimed their man Emperor and attacked Silvanus/Albanus and the young Caesar in Cologne. The pair were eventually given up by the citizens and killed by Postumus's men.
Valerian (emperor)
Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...
and his co-Emperor Gallienus
Gallienus
Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
. He is generally assumed to have been a 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...
under Gallienus.
However, the sources only tell us that he was made the guardian of the Caesar Saloninus
Saloninus
Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus was Roman Emperor in 259 or 260.-Early life:Saloninus was born around the year 242. His father was the later emperor Gallienus, his mother Cornelia Salonina, a Greek from Bithynia...
by Saloninus's father, the Emperor Gallienus
Gallienus
Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
. This seems likely to mean that he exercised a guiding influence over his young protegé as he represented the Imperial Dynasty in the government of the Gallic provinces. In this respect Silvanus/Albanus may be compared with Ingenuus
Ingenuus
Ingenuus was a Roman military commander, the imperial legate in Pannonia, who became a usurper to the throne of the emperor Gallienus when he led a brief and unsuccessful revolt in the year 260. Appointed by Gallienus himself, Ingenuus served him well by repulsing a Sarmatian invasion and securing...
who seems to have exercised a similar function, in loco parentis, in the government of the Illyrian provinces by Saloninus's elder brother, the Caesar Valerian
Valerian II
Publius Licinius Cornelius Valerianus , also known as Valerian II, was the eldest son of Roman Emperor Gallienus and Augusta Cornelia Salonina who was of Greek origin and grandson of the Emperor Valerian I who was of a noble and traditional senatorial family.Shortly after his acclamation as Emperor...
, earlier in the 250s. He would not have been given this office had he not been a seasoned soldier and administrator, but this does not mean that he was Gallienus's Praetorian Prefect.
It was Parker who supposed that Silvanus/Albanus must have held that office(presumably serving at the same time as Successianus
Successianus
Successianus was a Roman general of the Third Century AD of whom very little is known for certain. He appears to have distinguished himself at a lower rank, but, when promoted to Praetorian Prefect by Valerian he failed to save his Emperor from defeat and capture by the Persians.- Sources :What...
who served under Valerian
Valerian (emperor)
Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...
). This suggestion has since been generally accepted without question by academic opinion. However, it assumes that Valerian anticipated Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
in appointing (or countenancing the appointment of) such an officer to serve under his co-Emperor (Gallienus) when he (Valerian) went to Syria/Mesopotamia in 258(?) leaving Gallienus in charge in Europe, Egypt and Africa. There is no reason to suppose that such an innovatory measure would have been acceptable to Valerian who was known for his stern reverence for the old Roman constitution. Being Praetorian Prefect was not a necessary condition of being made the guardian of a Licinius Dynnasty Caesar: it has never been seriously suggested that Ingenuus
Ingenuus
Ingenuus was a Roman military commander, the imperial legate in Pannonia, who became a usurper to the throne of the emperor Gallienus when he led a brief and unsuccessful revolt in the year 260. Appointed by Gallienus himself, Ingenuus served him well by repulsing a Sarmatian invasion and securing...
, who seems to have been similarly in loco parentis in respect of Saloninus's brother, the Caesar Valerian
Valerian II
Publius Licinius Cornelius Valerianus , also known as Valerian II, was the eldest son of Roman Emperor Gallienus and Augusta Cornelia Salonina who was of Greek origin and grandson of the Emperor Valerian I who was of a noble and traditional senatorial family.Shortly after his acclamation as Emperor...
in the Illyrian provinces, was so honoured.
It is not impossible to suppose that Gallienus was expected to manage without a Praetorian Prefect until after Valerian (and Successianus) were captured by Shapur I
Shapur I
Shapur I or also known as Shapur I the Great was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 240/42 - 270/72, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent prior to his father's death in 242 .-Early years:Shapur was the son of Ardashir I...
in 260. Then Gallienus became sole Emperor, no longer subject to his father's potestas patriae and was free to appoint Volusianus (L. Petronius Taurus)
Volusianus (L. Petronius Taurus)
Volusianus was a Roman general and senior official of the mid-Third Century AD who distinguished himself in both the military and the civil spheres of public life....
, his own man, to that position.
Praetorian Prefect or not, in 260 Silvanus/Albanus fell into dispute with 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...
over the disposition of loot which the latter had seized from a party of German raiders in Gaul. Postumus's army, infuriated, then proclaimed their man Emperor and attacked Silvanus/Albanus and the young Caesar in Cologne. The pair were eventually given up by the citizens and killed by Postumus's men.