Claudius Gothicus

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Claudius Gothicus
Gold medallion depicting laureate bust facing right
Gold medallion (worth 8 aurei) depicting Claudius Gothicus. Legend: imp c m aurl claudius p f aug
Roman emperor
Reign268–270
PredecessorGallienus
SuccessorQuintillus
Born10 May 214
Diedc. August (?) 270 (aged 55)
Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior (modern-day Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia)
Names
Marcus Aurelius Claudius
Regnal name
Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Claudius Augustus[1]
DynastyGordian?
FatherUnknown, possibly Gordian II
MotherUnknown

Marcus Aurelius Claudius "Gothicus" (10 May 214 – August/September 270), also known as Claudius II, was Roman emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alemanni and decisively defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus. He died after succumbing to a "pestilence", possibly the Plague of Cyprian that had ravaged the provinces of the Empire.

Early life and origin

The most significant source for Claudius II is the collection of imperial biographies called the Historia Augusta. However, his story, like the rest of the Historia Augusta, is riddled with fabrications and obsequious praises. In 4th century, Claudius was declared a relative of Constantine the Great's father, Constantius Chlorus, and, consequently, of the ruling dynasty. The Historia Augusta should be used with extreme caution and supplemented with information from other sources: the works of Aurelius Victor, Pseudo-Aurelius Victor, Eutropius, Orosius, Joannes Zonaras, and Zosimus, as well as coins and inscriptions.[2]

The future emperor Marcus Aurelius Claudius was born on 10 May 214.

Moesia Superior.[3]

According to the fourth-century Epitome de Caesaribus, he was thought to be a bastard son of Gordian II,[6] although this is doubted by some historians.[7]

The Historia Augusta refers to him as a member of the

gens Flavia, likely an attempt to further connect him with the future emperor Flavius Valerius Constantius.[8]

Rise to power

Antoninianus of Claudius II. Legend: IMPerator Caesar CLAVDIVS AVGustus

Before coming to power, Claudius served with the Roman army, where he had a successful career and secured appointments to the highest military posts. During the reign of Decius (249–251) he served as a military tribune.[9] In this post, Claudius was sent to defend Thermopylae, in connection with which the governor of Achaea was ordered to send him 200 Dardanian soldiers, 60 horsemen, 60 Cretan archers, and a thousand well-armed recruits. However, there is no evidence that the Goths who invaded at that time threatened the region, since their invasion did not extend beyond the middle Balkans. Most likely the message of the "History of the Augustus" is an anachronism, since it is known that the garrison at Thermopylae appeared in 254. Historian François Pashau suggests that this passage was invented in order to contrast the successful pagan commander Claudius with the unlucky Christian generals who allowed the ruin of Greece by the Gothic leader Alaric I in 396.[10] In addition, Trebellius Pollio reveals that Decius rewarded Claudius after he demonstrated his strength while fighting another soldier at the Games of Mars.[11]

His troops then proclaimed him emperor[12] amid charges, never proven, that he murdered his predecessor Gallienus.[2] However, he soon showed himself to be less than bloodthirsty, as he asked the Roman Senate to spare the lives of Gallienus's family and supporters. He was less magnanimous toward Rome's enemies and it was to this that he owed his popularity.[13]

It is possible Claudius gained his position and the respect of the soldiers by being physically strong and especially cruel. A legend tells of Claudius knocking out a horse's teeth with one punch. When Claudius performed as a wrestler in the 250s, he supposedly knocked out the teeth of his opponent when his genitalia had been grabbed in the match.[14]

Claudius, like

soldier emperors" who would eventually restore the Empire after the Crisis of the Third Century.[15][16]

Downfall of Gallienus

Roman emperor Gallienus, (r.253–268 AD)

During the 260s, the breakup of the Roman Empire into three distinct governing entities (the core Roman Empire, the Gallic Empire and the Palmyrene Empire) placed the whole Roman imperium in a precarious position. Gallienus was seriously weakened by his failure to defeat Postumus in the West, and his acceptance of Odaenathus ruling a de facto independent kingdom within the Roman Empire in the East. By 268, this situation had changed, as Odaenathus was assassinated, most likely due to court intrigue, and Gallienus fell victim to a mutiny in his own ranks. Upon the death of Odaenathus, power fell to his younger son, who was dominated by his mother, Zenobia.[17]

Under threat of invasion in the Balkans by multiple Germanic tribes, Gallienus's troubles primarily lay with Postumus, whom he could not attack because his attention was required in dealing with an insurrection led by Macrianus and the threats created by the invading Scythians. After four years of delay, Postumus had established some control over the Empire. In 265, when Gallienus and his men crossed the Alps, they defeated and besieged Postumus in an (unnamed) Gallic city. When victory appeared to be near, Gallienus made the mistake of approaching the city walls too closely and was gravely injured, compelling him to cease his campaign against Postumus. Over the next three years, Gallienus's troubles only got worse. The Scythians successfully invaded the Balkans in the early months of 268, and Aureolus, a commander of the Roman cavalry based in Milan, declared himself an ally of Postumus and went so far as to claim the imperial throne for himself.[17]

At this time, another invasion was taking place. In 268, a tribe or grouping called the

Asia Minor and then into Greece on a naval expedition. Despite this, scholars assume Gallienus's efforts were focused on Aureolus, the officer who betrayed him, and the defeat of the Herulians was left to his successor, Claudius Gothicus.[18]

The death of Gallienus was surrounded by conspiracy and betrayal, as were many emperors' deaths. Different accounts of the incident have been recorded, but they agree that senior officials wanted Gallienus dead. According to two accounts, the prime conspirator was

Constantine's time, and suggests that the original version from which these two accounts derive was current prior to the reign of Constantine. It was written that while sitting down at dinner, Gallienus was told that Aureolus and his men were approaching the camp. Gallienus rushed to the front lines, ready to give orders, when he was struck down by a commander of his cavalry. In a different and more controversial account, Aureolus forges a document in which Gallienus appears to be plotting against his generals and makes sure it falls into the hands of the emperor's senior staff. In this plot, Aurelian is added as a possible conspirator. The tale of his involvement in the conspiracy might be seen as at least partial justification for the murder of Aurelian himself under circumstances that seem remarkably similar to those in this story.[19]

Whichever story is true, Gallienus was killed in the summer of 268, probably between July and October,[20][21][5] and Claudius was chosen by the army outside of Milan to succeed him. Accounts tell of people hearing the news of the new emperor, and reacting by murdering Gallienus's family members until Claudius declared he would respect the memory of his predecessor. Claudius had the deceased emperor deified and buried in a family tomb on the Appian Way. The traitor Aureolus was not treated with the same reverence, as he was killed by his besiegers after a failed attempt to surrender.[19]

Reign

At the time of Claudius's accession, the Roman Empire was in serious danger from several incursions, both inside and outside its borders. The most pressing of these was an invasion of Illyricum and Pannonia by the Goths.[13] Although Gallienus had already inflicted some damage on them at the Battle of Nestus,[22] Claudius, not long after being named emperor, followed this up by winning his greatest victory, and one of the greatest in the history of Roman arms.[18]

The Roman Empire in 268 A.D.

At the

Danube River by Aurelian, and nearly a century passed before they again posed a serious threat to the empire.[18]

Around the same time, the

Alamanni had crossed the Alps and attacked the empire. Claudius responded quickly, routing the Alamanni at the Battle of Lake Benacus in the late fall of 268, a few months after the Battle of Naissus.[23] For this he was awarded the title of "Germanicus Maximus."[2] He then turned on the Gallic Empire, ruled by a pretender for the past eight years and encompassing Britain, Gaul, and the Iberian Peninsula. He won several victories and soon regained control of Hispania and the Rhone river valley of Gaul.[22] This set the stage for the later destruction of the Gallic Empire under Aurelian.[2]

Government and foreign affairs

Claudius was not the only man to reap the benefits of holding high office after the death of

Marcus Aurelius Probus (another emperor in waiting) was also of Balkan background, and from a family enfranchised in the time of Caracalla.[26]

Although their influence was weakened, there were still a number of men with influence from the older aristocracy. Claudius assumed the consulship in 269 with Paternus, a member of the prominent senatorial family, the Paterni, who had supplied consuls and urban prefects throughout Gallienus's reign, and thus were quite influential. In addition, Flavius Antiochianus, one of the consuls of 270, who was an urban prefect the year before, would continue to hold his office for the following year. A colleague of Antiochianus, Virius Orfitus, also the descendant of a powerful family, would continue to hold influence during his father's term as prefect. Aurelian's colleague as consul was another such man, Pomponius Bassus, a member of one of the oldest senatorial families, as was one of the consuls in 272, Junius Veldumnianus.[26]

In his first full year of power, Claudius was greatly assisted by the sudden destruction of the imperium Galliarum. When Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus, a high official under

Placidianus had captured Grenoble. Luckily, it was there that Placidianus stopped and Victorinus's position stabilized. In the next year, when Autun revolted, declaring itself for Claudius, the central government made no moves to support it. As a result, the city went through a siege, lasting many weeks, until it was finally captured and sacked by Victorinus.[27]

It is still unknown why Claudius did nothing to help the city of Autun, but sources tell us his relations with

Constantine from being tainted. If this understanding of the sources is correct, it might also be correct to see the expedition of Heraclianus to the east as an event of Claudius's time.[27]

Ruins of Imperial Palace at Sirmium, today in Sremska Mitrovica

The victories of Claudius over the

Zonaras, whose Greek tradition seems to have been influenced by Latin. For Zosimus, a more reasoned contemporary view shows Claudius as less grand. Claudius's successes in the year 269 were not continued in his next year as emperor. As the Scythians starved in the mountains or surrendered, the legions pursuing them began to see an epidemic spreading throughout the men. Also, Claudius's unwillingness to do anything at the siege of Autun likely provoked a quarrel with Zenobia.[28]

Although it is not proven that the invasion of Gaul was the breaking point between Claudius and Zenobia, the sequence of events point to the siege as an important factor. The issue at hand was the position that Odaenathus held as corrector totius orientis (imparting overall command of the Roman armies and authority over the Roman provincial governors in the designated region). Vaballathus, the son of Zenobia, was given this title when Zenobia claimed it for him. From then on, tension between the two empires would only get worse. Aurelius Heraclianus's fabled arrival might have been an effort to reassert central control after the death of Odaenathus, but, if so, it failed. Although coins were never minted with the face of Odaenathus,[29] soon after his death coins were made with image of his son[30] – outstripping his authority under the emperor.[31]

Under

Mediterranean. However, he did not see the same success in Egypt, for a group allied to the Palmyrene empire, led by Timagenes, undermined Probus, defeated his army, and killed him in a battle near the modern city of Cairo in the late summer of 270.[28]

Portrait of a bearded man, potentially Claudius Gothicus or a different third-century soldier emperor. C. 230–250 C.E.
Portrait bust possibly depicting Claudius at the Worcester Art Museum.[32]

Generally, when a Roman commander is killed it is taken as a sign that a state of war is in existence, and if we can associate the death of

Persia, which a number of Roman emperors had failed to do. Vaballathus stressed the meanings of titles, because in the Palmyrene context, the titles of Odaenathus meant a great deal. When the summer of 270 ended, things were looking very different in the empire than they did a year before. After its success, Gaul was in a state of inactivity and the empire was failing in the east. Insufficient resources plagued the state, as a great deal of silver was used for the antoninianus, which was again diluted.[28]

Death

Claudius did not live long enough to fulfil his goal of reuniting all the lost territories of the empire. Late in 269 he had travelled to Sirmium[12] and was preparing to go to war against the Vandals, who were raiding in Pannonia.[23] However, he fell victim to the Plague of Cyprian (possibly smallpox), and died early in 270.[33] Before his death, he is thought to have named Aurelian as his successor, though Claudius's brother Quintillus briefly seized power.[13] The Senate immediately deified Claudius as "Divus Claudius Gothicus".[34]

Historians date Claudius's death in either January,[21] April,[20] August, or September.[5] These discrepancies are the result of the various conflicting sources. The Chronograph of 354 gives Claudius a reign of "1 year and 4 months",[35] Jerome and Aurelius Victor both give "1 year and 9 months".[36] Some Alexandrian coins have been dated to his third year, suggesting that he died in September 270 (the Coptic calendar began on 29 August).[37][20] Arthur Stein dated Claudius' death to April, citing a document of Aurelian that he dated to 25 May 270.[20][21] However, modern scholars believe this document to be dated to 271.[38][39] The date is strangely given as the "3rd" and "1st year", which most likely refers to the third year of Claudius and first of Aurelian (who dated his reign from Claudius' death).[40] The last confirmed document is dated to 20 September 270, although another undated papyri could be tentatively dated to October.[41]

Religion

A short history of imperial Rome, entitled De Caesaribus, written by Aurelius Victor in AD 361 states that Claudius consulted the Sibylline Books prior to his campaigns against the Goths. Hinting that Claudius "revived the tradition of the Decii", Victor illustrates the senatorial view, which saw Claudius's predecessor, Gallienus, as too relaxed when it came to religious policies.[42]

Links to the Constantinian dynasty

The unreliable

Constantine I to that of a well-respected emperor.[2]

Saint Valentine

Claudius Gothicus has been linked to

Claudius I did not persecute Christians (minus the one mention by Suetonius of Jewish followers of "Chrestus" being expelled from Rome; see Suetonius on Christians), so people believe he was Claudius II even though this emperor spent most of his time warring outside his territory.[46]

The legend was retold in later texts, and in the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 AD, involved the Roman priest being martyred during a general persecution of Christians. The text states that St. Valentine was beaten with clubs and finally beheaded for giving aid to Christians in Rome.[46] The Golden Legend of 1260 AD recounts how St. Valentine refused to deny Christ before the "Emperor Claudius" in 270 AD and as a result was beheaded.[47] Since then, February 14 marks Valentine's Day, a day set aside by the Christian church in memory of the Roman priest and physician.[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ Henze 1896, col. 2458.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Weigel, Richard D. (2001). "Claudius II Gothicus (268—270)". An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b Damerau 1934, s. 39.
  4. ^ Henze 1896, s. 2458.
  5. ^ a b c Kienast 2017, p. 222.
  6. ^ [1] "Many think this man was fathered by Gordian, when, as a youth, he was being prepared by a grown woman for a wife."
  7. .
  8. ^ [2]Historia Augusta, The Life of Claudius
  9. ala
    of auxiliary cavalry. For Claudius to have been demoted to this level from the heights he had previously occupied (Hipparchos of the Cavalry and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Armies) would suggest a serious rift between himself and Gallienus. It is possible, but there is no evidence for it in any of the ancient sources; even Zosimus, who is notably cool towards Claudius, gives no hint of it. The most likely explanation for the suggestion is that the author of the Historia Augusta, writing in the Fourth Century AD after the Constantinian reform of the army, had no notion what the term 'tribune' denoted in the seventh decade of the previous century.
  10. ^ Paschoud 1992, p. 25—26.
  11. ^ Aurelius Victor, 33
  12. ^ a b PLRE, Vol 1, p. 209.
  13. ^ a b c Gibbon, Ch. 11
  14. ^ Meijer, pg. 98
  15. ^ Lightfoot, Christopher (October 2000). "The Roman empire (27 B.C.-393 A.D.)". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  16. ^ "What were the causes of the 3rd century crisis in the Roman Empire?". dailyhistory.org. 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  17. ^ a b Potter, pg. 263
  18. ^ .
  19. ^ a b Potter, pg. 264
  20. ^
    S2CID 161464046
    .
  21. ^ .
  22. ^ a b Southern, pg. 109
  23. ^ a b Southern, pg. 110
  24. .
  25. ^ Christol, Michel (1976). "Une carrière équestre sous le règne de l'empereur Gallien". Latomus. 35: 866–74.
  26. ^ a b Potter, p. 265
  27. ^ a b Potter, p. 266
  28. ^ a b c Potter, p. 267
  29. .
  30. .
  31. ^ Claes, Liesbeth (2015). "Coins with power" (PDF). No. 102. Jaarboek voor Munt. pp. 15–60.
  32. ^ "Claudius Gothicus". Virtuelles AntikenMuseum Goettingen. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Now when the war with the Goths was finished, there spread abroad a most grievous pestilence, and then Claudius himself was stricken by the disease, and, leaving mankind, he departed to heaven, an abode befitting his virtues." (Historia Augusta).
  34. ^ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History: The Crisis of Empire, A.D. 193-337, pg. 50
  35. ^ Chronicon, s. 269; Epitome de Caesaribus s. 34
  36. .
  37. . 25 mai 270 considéré comme la date la plus ancienne d'Aurélien dans les papyrus doit être reporté à 271
  38. .
  39. .
  40. .
  41. ^ Curran, pg. 15
  42. ^ Historia Augusta, Claudius, 13:2
  43. ^ Historia Augusta, Life of Claudius 1 (note 1). LacusCurtius.
  44. .
  45. ^ a b c d e Jack Oruch, "St. Valentine, Chaucer, and Spring in February", Speculum 56.3 (July 1981 pp 534–565) p 535.
  46. ^ a b c Henry Kelly, Chaucer and the cult of Saint Valentine, pg. 49
  47. ^ Larue, pg. 1

Sources

Primary sources

Secondary sources

External links

Regnal titles
Preceded by Roman emperor
268–270
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
P. Licinius Egnatius Marinianus
Postumus
Roman consul
269
with Paternus,
Victorinus,
Sanctus
Succeeded by