Hostilian

Hostilian (251 CE) was a Roman Emperor during the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE).
He was one of only twenty-five Emperors to die of natural causes.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus
HOSTILIAN’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
- July – November 251 CE.
HOSTILIAN’S DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born c.230 CE. Died in 251 CE. Aged 21.
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior. Died in Rome.
HOSTILIAN’S PREDECESSOR:
- Trebonianus Gallus
HOSTILIAN’S SUCCESSOR:
- Valerian
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- His father was the Roman Emperor Decius and his brother the co-Emperor Herennius Etruscus.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Uncertain: Trebonianus Gallus agreed to make him co-emperor and adopted Hostilian as his heir:
- Either: he may have had Hostilian assassinated.
- Or: he may have succumbed to the Plague of Cyprian, as nothing is heard of him after July 251 CE.
WHERE BURIED:
- Thought to be buried in the crypt under the Mausoleum in Viminacium, Serbia.
HOSTILIAN WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
- Hostilian was one of only 25 Roman Emperors to die of a natural cause.
- He was one of the Illyrian Emperors.

Hostilian’s father was the Roman Emperor Decius and his brother was the co-emperor Herennius Etruscus.
When Decius died in battle against the Goths, at the Battle of Abritus, Trebonianus Gallus agreed to be co-emperor and adopt Hostilian as his heir.
However, Hostilian may have succumbed to the Plague of Cyprian, as nothing is heard of him after July 251 CE.
Hostilian was one of only 25 Roman Emperors to die of a natural cause.
He was one of the Illyrian Emperors.