Procopius (usurper)
| Procopius | |
|---|---|
_minted_in_Constantinople.jpg) Solidus of Procopius minted in Constantinople | |
| Roman emperor | |
| Reign | 28 September 365 – 27 May 366 (against Valens) |
| Predecessor | Valens and Valentinian I |
| Successor | Valens and Valentinian I |
| Born | 326 Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) |
| Died | 27 May 366 (aged 40) |
| Wife |
|
| Issue | Procopius |
| Mother | Sister of Basilina[1] |
Procopius (Ancient Greek: Προκόπιος; 326 – 27 May 366) was a Roman usurper against Valens.
Life
Procopius was a native of
During the reign of Constantius II, he served as tribunus et notarius for a long period of time. By 358, the emperor trusted him enough to send him with Lucillianus as an envoy to the Sassanid court.[2] His career granted him the opportunity to build many important connections, as well as to help him understand the structure of the imperial government.[4]
Procopius entered Julian's retinue and took part in his campaign against the Sassanids in 363..
Though Julian had died without naming a successor,[7] a rumor spread that he had ordered Procopius to take the purple in case of his death.[5] Fearing Jovian's wrath, which had caused the death of another army candidate to the throne (Jovianus),[8] Procopius went into hiding, but later supervised the transport of Julian's body to Tarsus and its subsequent burial,[9] and only later went to Caesarea with his family.[10][2]
After Jovian's death, the new emperors,
Becoming aware of discontent caused by the policies of Valens’ praetorian prefect and father-in-law, Petronius,[12][13] Procopius decided to declare himself Emperor. He bribed two legions which were then resting at Constantinople to support his efforts, and took control of the imperial city. Shortly after this he proclaimed himself Emperor on 28 September 365, and quickly took control of the provinces of Thrace, and later Bithynia.[14] Procopius promoted himself as an educated philosopher, well versed in the Greek language of the Eastern Empire, and highlighted Valens' weakness in this area, to gain the support of the Hellenized Eastern aristocrats.[15] He also emphasized his link to the Constantinian dynasty by appearing in public with Constantius II’s widow Faustina and their daughter Constantia, an act which Ammianus considered to have earned him greater support.[16]
Though Valens initially despaired of subduing the rebellion, and was inclined to come to terms with the usurper, he quickly rallied, guided by the counsels of
See also
References
- ^ Hughes 2013, p. 17.
- ^ a b c d e f Jones, Martindale & Morris, pp. 742–743.
- ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris, pp. 111–112.
- ^ Hughes 2013, p. 39.
- ^ a b Curran 1998, p. 89.
- ^ François Paschoud, Zosime. Histoire Nouvelle (Paris: Société d'édition "Les Belles Lettres," 1979), II.1, n. 33, pp. 106–109.
- ^ Potter 2004, p. 518.
- ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris, pp. 460–461.
- ^ Hughes 2013, p. 18.
- ^ According to Philostorgius, since his wife could not bear their escape, Procopius went to Caesarea, but to live in one of Eunomius' properties (Historia Ecclesiastica 9.5).
- ^ Potter 2004, p. 522.
- ^ a b Hughes 2013, p. 40.
- ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris, p. 691.
- ^ Curran 1998, p. 90.
- ^ Lenski 2003, pp. 92–96.
- ^ Hughes 2013, p. 42.
- ^ Edward Gibbon,The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, (The Modern Library, 1932), chap. XXV., p. 852, 853
- ^ Curran 1998, p. 91.
- ^ Potter 2004, p. 525.
- ^ Hughes 2013, p. 48.
Sources
- Curran, John (1998). "From Jovian to Theodosius". In ISBN 0-521-30200-5.
- Hughes, Ian (5 August 2013). Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-2863-6.
- ISBN 0-521-07233-6.
- Lenski, Noel (2003). Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century A.D. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-23332-8.
- Potter, David S. (2004). The Roman Empire at Bay: AD 180–395. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-10057-7.
External links
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| National | |
