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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Magnus Maximus, post: 2307421, member: 73473&quot;]Born in 206 CE to an old Etruscan family in Italy, Gaius Vibius Afinius Trebonianus Gallus rose through the Cursus Honorum during the reigns of Gordian III, Philip I, and Decius to become Consul in 250 CE.</p><p>Gallus was so trusted by Emperor Decius that he appointed Gallus to the Governorship of Moesia. This was the same province that had raised Decius to the purple a year earlier, so you can see how much Decius trusted him.</p><p><br /></p><p>The goths had been raiding Imperial territory since the chaotic year of six emperors in 238 CE, these raids had intensified during the later reign of Philip I. In 250 the goths sacked the city of Philippopolis, prompting a direct&nbsp; Imperial response. During this time, Gallus did his best to stop the invaders, sometimes he failed other times he succeeded, but he was doing his best. Emperor Trajan Decius engaged the goths&nbsp; numerous times in 250/1, the results were bloody stalemates. Unfortunately, Decius and his son were killed at the Battle of Abritus in 251. This was the first time in the Empire&#039;s history that an Emperor had been killed in the field of battle by barbarians. The tattered Legions declared the highest ranking surviving official to the purple, Gallus.</p><p>Later Roman historians claim that Gallus actually betrayed Decius and the Moesian legions at Abritus, these claims are most likely false. Had Gallus, who personally fought in the battle, betrayed the legions then they most likely would have torn him limb from limb, not acclaim him Emperor.</p><p>Gallus made a humiliating peace with the goths and made his way to Rome to consolidate his power. In Rome he found the late Emperor Decius&#039;s younger son, Hostilian. Gallus took the high ground and instead of risking a civil war and killing the boy, he made him Caesar (Junior Emperor).&nbsp; Unfortunately, a massive smallpox plague struck Rome in 251. Some reports say that 5,000 people were dying a day in Rome during the height of the pandemic. Hostilian was one of the victims of the plague and was one of the few Emperor&#039;s to die a &quot;natural death&quot; during the Crisis of the 3rd Century. Gallus is reported to have given even the poorest of the poor a decent burial.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was during this time that Sharpur I invaded the Roman east and sacked a number of cities. The Roman garrisons were completely taken off guard; when Gallus heard of the disaster he responded with indifference. Mike Duncain of the History of Rome podcast says that perhaps if Gallus had lived long enough he would have eventually made his way east. We shall never know though.</p><p>In 253 the goths demanded an increase in tribute, Gallus refused and the goths promptly began to raid Thrace and Moesia again. Though this time they suffered a catastrophic defeat by a Roman General named Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus.</p><p>Predictably, the Legions acclaimed Aemilian Emperor after his stunning victory. Gallus and his son Volusian were either defeated by Aemilian and then executed or killed by their own troops in northern Italy. Aemilian would rule for about a month until Valerian put him down, but that&#039;s a story for another day.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>It&#039;s worth noting that Gallus was one of the few Emperors after Nerva that was of pure Italian stock. I find it fascinating how the Empire was able to absorb and assimilate provincials into the Empire so quickly.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sources</p><p><a href="http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/trebonianus.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/trebonianus.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/trebonianus.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.roman-emperors.org/trebgall.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.roman-emperors.org/trebgall.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.roman-emperors.org/trebgall.htm</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>What ole Gallus looked like.</b></p><p>A rare surviving bronze statue of Emperor Trebonianus Gallus</p><p>[ATTACH=full]464550[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>My final coin of 2015!!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]464555[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]464556[/ATTACH]</p><p>Date: C, 251-253 CE</p><p>Rev: PAX AVGVS, Pax standing facing, head left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter</p><p>Size: 22 mm</p><p>Weight: 2.83g</p><p>Ref: RIC V 86 var</p><p>Condition: Grainy surfaces with clear detail</p><p>Antioch mint.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your coins of Trebonianus Gallus![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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