Domitianus II

Domitianus II (c.270 CE) is an unknown Emperor of the breakway Gallic Empire (260-274 CE).
His existence is known only by two coins.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- ‘Imperator Caesar Domtianus Pius Felix Augustus’.
- This name is from a coin. No other names are known.
DOMITIANUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- 270 CE, for a few weeks.
DOMITIANUS II DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Date of birth unknown. Died in 270 CE.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Both unknown.
DOMITIANUS’ PREDECESSOR:
- Victorinus
DOMITIANUS’ SUCCESSOR:
- Tetricus I
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- He was possibly elected by the legions after the murder of Victorinus.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- He was either executed by Tetricus I or by Placidianus, Claudius II Gothicus‘ General.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.

In the absence of an official history, his existence is only confirmed by some coins.
It is thought that Domitianus II was Victorinus‘ usurper, elected by the legions, and executed by his successor, Tetricus I.

CLASSICAL SOURCES:
- Historia Augusta
  - mentions him, but as a soldier not as an Emperor.
- Two Coins
  - These are dated 250-275 CE and enscribed with ‘Imperator Caesar Domtianus Pius Felix Augustus’.
    - One coin from a coin hoard of 5,000 coins, found in Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
    - The other coin is from a hoard in Les Cleons, the Loire, France.