Faustinus

Summary

Faustinus was a 3rd-century CE political figure who launched a rebellion against the Gallic Emperor Tetricus I.[1] His full name and his year of birth are unknown.[1] According to a small number of literary sources (Aurelius Victor,[2] Eutropius,[3] and Polemius Silvius[4]), Faustinus sparked a mutiny among Tetricus' troops.[4] At the time of his rebellion, Faustinus was a provincial governor (praeses),[2] presumably of Gallia Belgica since the capital of that province—Augusta Treverorum—was where the rebellion began.[1] Faustinus' revolt was formidable enough, according to the literary sources, to lead Tetricus to appeal to the central Roman emperor Aurelian for aid against the usurper.[2][3][4][5]

The exact date of his rebellion is uncertain, but scholars generally agree on some time between late 273 CE and the summer of 274 CE.[1] Some ancient sources suggest that Faustinus continued his revolt after Tetricus surrendered to Aurelian, who in this scenario would have defeated Faustinus in 274 CE.[6]

Faustinus may have owned property in Britain that was confiscated after the failure of his rebellion.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Polfer (1999).
  2. ^ a b c Aurelius Victor 35.4, cited in Polfer (1999).
  3. ^ a b Eutropius, Breviarium 9.10-13.
  4. ^ a b c Polemius Silvius, Laterculus 49, cited in Polfer (1999).
  5. ^ Orosius, Historiarum adversus paganos VII.23.5, cited in Polfer (1999).
  6. ^ König, I. (1981). Die gallischen Usurpatoren von Postumus bis Tetricus. München. p. 181. ISBN 9783406048012.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link), cited in Polfer (1999), who objects that by this timeline, Faustinus should have had time to strike his own coins, but none have been found.
  7. ^ Stevens, C. E. (1966), "The social and economic aspect of rural settlement", Rural settlement in Roman Britain, CBA Research reports 7, C. Thomas (ed.), London, p. 122{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link), cited in Polfer (1999).

Sources edit

  • Polfer, Michel (1999). "Faustinus". De Imperatoribus Romanis.