Marcus Claudius Tacitus

• Marcus Claudius Tacitus (275-276 CE) was a Roman Emperor during the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE).
• He was the last Emperor to be elected by the Roman Senate.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

• NAME:
  • Marcus Claudius Tacitus
• MARCUS CLAUDIUS TACITUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
  • 25 September 275 CE to June 276 CE.
• MARCUS CLAUDIUS TACITUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born in c. 200 CE. Died June 276 CE.
• PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Born in Interamnia, Italia. Died in Tyana, Cappadocia.
• MARCUS CLAUDIUS TACITUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • Aurelian
• MARCUS CLAUDIUS TACITUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • Florianus
• HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
  • He was elected Emperor by the Roman Senate.
• DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • Died of a fever.
• WHERE BURIED:
  • Unknown.
• TACITUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
  • Marcus Claudius Tacitus was the last Roman Emperor to be elected by the Roman Senate.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

• As soon as he was elected Emperor 25 September 275 CE, Marcus Claudius Tacitus arrested and executed Aurelian‘s assassins.
• The Praefectus Praetorio, Florianus, was his half-brother.
• Together, they conducted a successful campaign against the Heruli, former allies of Aurelian, who had gone on the rampage. As a result, he received the title ‘Gothicus Maximus’.
• Meanwhile, the Franks and Alemanni invaded Gaul.
• Whilst en route to meet them, he died of a fever in June 276 CE.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • Historia Augusta
  • Eutropius
  • Aurelius Victor De Caesaribus