Probus - Roman Emperor: 276-282
A.D. -
Silvered
Bronze Antoninianus 23mm (2.84 grams) Struck at the mint
of Cyzicus circa 280 A.D.
Reference: RIC 911h, C 683
IMP CM AVR PROBVS P F AVG - Radiate bust left, wearing
imperial mantle, holding scepter with eagle atop.
SOLI INVICTO Exe: CM/XXIS - Sol riding oncoming quadriga,
raising hand and holding whip with globe.
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Sol, the Sun. - This glorious luminary was originally regarded
and worshipped by the Pagans as being the most brilliant and the most useful
object in the universe -- as constituting by his light and heat the natural
source of life and health both to the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and as
imparting his splendor to the other heavenly bodies, and his glory to the whole
firmament. The more deeply investigations are carried into heathen mythology,
the more clearly it is to be seen that almost all its principal divinities
resolve themselves into an identity with the Sun, to whose predominating
influence over the moon and stars the government and preservation of all things
both in heaven and earth were ascribed. Ancient monuments represent the Sun
under the form of a man, with a youthful face, the head encircled with rays:
sometimes he is mounted on a chariot drawn by winged horses. A horse was
sacrified to him, on account of the great swiftness of that animal, a usage
especially practiced by the Lacedemonians. The Sun was called Mithras by
the Persians; Osiris by the Egyptians.
Marcus
Aurelius Probus
(c. August 19,
232–September/October, 282) was a
Roman Emperor
(276–282).
A native of
Sirmium
(now
Sremska Mitrovica
,
Serbia
), in
Pannonia
, at an early age he entered the army, where
he distinguished himself under the Emperors
Valerian
,
Aurelian
and
Tacitus
. He was appointed governor of the East by
Tacitus, at whose death he was immediately proclaimed
his successor by the soldiers (276).
Florianus
, who had claimed to succeed his
half-brother Tacitus, was put to death by his own troops
after an indecisive campaign. Probus moved to the West,
defeated the Goths acquiring the title of Gothicus
(280), and saw his position ratified by the
Senate
.
The reign of Probus was mainly spent
in successful wars by which he re-established the
security of all the frontiers. The most important of
these operations were directed to clearing
Gaul
of German invaders (Franks,
Longiones
,
Alamanni
and
Burgundians
), allowing Probus to adopt the titles of
Gothicus Maximus and Germanicus Maximus.
One of his principles was never to allow the soldiers to
be idle, and to employ them in time of peace on useful
works, such as the planting of vineyards in Gaul,
Pannonia and other districts, in order to restart the
economy in these devastated lands.
In 279–280, Probus was, according to
Zosimus
, in
Raetia
,
Illyricum
and
Lycia
, where he fought the
Vandals
. In the same years, Probus' generals
defeated the
Blemmyes
in
Egypt
; Probus ordered the reconstruction of bridges
and canals along the Nile, where the production of grain
for the Empire was centered.
In 280–281, Probus had also put down
three usurpers,
Julius Saturninus
,
Proculus
and
Bonosus
. The extent of these revolts is not clear,
but there are clues that they were not just local
problems[1].
In 281, the emperor was in Rome, where he celebrated his
triumph
.
Probus was eager to start his eastern
campaign, delayed by the revolts in the west. He left
Rome in 282, moving first towards Sirmium, his birth
city, when the news that
Marcus Aurelius Carus
, commander of the
Praetorian Guard
, had been proclaimed emperor
reached him. Probus sent some troops against the new
usurper, but when those troops changed sides and
supported Carus, Probus's soldiers then assassinated him
(September/October 282). |