Trebonianus Gallus

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Gaius Vibius Afinius Trebonianus Gallus
  • TREBONIUS GALLUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • June 251 CE to August 253 CE.
  • TREBONIUS GALLUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born: 206 CE. Died: Aug 253 CE.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Italy. Died in Interamna, Italy.
  • TREBONIUS GALLUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • TREBONIUS GALLUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • His Legions proclaimed him Emperor after Decius and his son died in battle.
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Either: Gallus died in battle against Aemilianus at Interamna, Italy.
    • Or: he was killed by his own soldiers.
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • Unknown.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Rise to Power:

  • Trebonius Gallus was commander of the Legions in the East when Decius and his son died in Battle.
  • The Army proclaimed Gallus Emperor. He decided to be co-emperor with Hostilian, Decius’ younger son, who had already been proclaimed Emperor in Rome. However, nothing further is known about Hostilian after July 251 CE.

The Goths:

  • 251 CE, after the disastrous loss of Decius to the Goths, Gallus had little choice but to conclude a peace treaty. The agreement allowed the Goths to retain their prisoners and loot, and also for an annual Tribute to be paid to them so as not to reinvade.

Rome:

  • Gallus returned to Rome in June of 251 CE, amidst the Plague of Cyprian. He may have been involved in further persecutions against the Christians, like his predecessor Decius.

Parthia:

  • Mariades in Antioch rebelled and looted Syria and Cappadocia, then retreated to Parthia, before Gallus’ armies could catch him.
  • 253 CE Shapur I invaded Armenia and defeated a Roman Army of 60,000 at the Battle of Barbalissos. He then invaded Syria and Antioch unopposed, capturing all the forts.
  • In 254 CE he re-invaded Syria, but was opposed and forced to retreat by Uranius Antoninus, who proceeded to proclaim himself Emperor.

The Danube:

  • The Scythians broke their peace treaty of 251 CE, and laid waste to Asia Minor with a Fleet, ransacking the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, before returning home.
  • The Scythians also invaded Moesia Inferior, but were repulsed by the Governor Aemilianus. Aemilianus‘ Legions then proclaimed him Emperor and he marched to Rome to remove Gallus.

Valerian:

  • Gallus recalled the other German Legions commanded by Valerian, who arrived too late to save Gallus. He was killed either in the battle or after.
  • When Valerian arrived in September, Aemilianus‘ legions defected, assassinating him, and the Senate proclaimed Valerian Emperor, although his Legions had already done so.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • CLASSICAL SOURCES:

 

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