250-269 Christian Goths Kill Emperor Decius & Destroy Temple of Diana
In this 20 year period the Roman Emperor Decius (pictured) died in 251 and was succeeded by Gallus.
Gallus died in 252 and was succeeded by Aemiliannus who, in turn, died in 254 and was succeeded by Valerian. Valerian died in 260 and was succeeded by Gallienus who, in turn, died in 268 and was succeeded by Claudius
Decius was beseiged by the Goths in 251 and in Thrace he was killed by them. Thrace was also the area where there were many Christians seething from his decree demanding sacrifice to the traditional gods -- but his decree was not directed solely at Christians, it was directed to all newcomers, particularly the Syrians, who sought the elevation of their gods over the traditional Roman gods.
With Decius' death, two decades of ruling chaos broke out, all succeeding emperors seizing power through military usurpation.
The next emperor was Gallus whose reign was another disaster with the Goths running amok.
Gallus died in 252 aftrer his troops switched loyalty to Aemiliannus and killed him; and when he was succeeded by Aemilius Aemiliannus - the former Governor of Moesia - there was a victory in the Balkans in 253, but eventually his troops, too, soured of his rule and killed him in 254.
The next emperor was Valerian, a Senator, who resumed the former attempt to suppress Christianity by confiscating their property if they refused to follow Roman sacrifice customs. He spent most of his time in the East, where Shapur defeated a Roman army in Syria.
Valerian died in 260 and his son, Gallienus, became emperor and immediately revoked his father's property confiscation of the Christians.
In 262 the Temple of Diana destroyed by Goths.
During Gallienus' reign, an edict removed Senators from military command, allowing them governance of non-military provinces where they owned property and giving border provinces, where trouble was most likely to break out, to low bred men.
During Gallienus' reign, too, the first of the so-called Gallic Emperors arose, governing their own territory, separate from Rome. Postumus, for instance, commanded all the provinces in the the north, west of the Alps - Gaul, Spain and Britain.
In 268 Gallienus was killed by his troups and Claudius Gothicus, one of Gallienus' generals responsible for his murder, became emperor.
Gallus died in 252 and was succeeded by Aemiliannus who, in turn, died in 254 and was succeeded by Valerian. Valerian died in 260 and was succeeded by Gallienus who, in turn, died in 268 and was succeeded by Claudius
Decius was beseiged by the Goths in 251 and in Thrace he was killed by them. Thrace was also the area where there were many Christians seething from his decree demanding sacrifice to the traditional gods -- but his decree was not directed solely at Christians, it was directed to all newcomers, particularly the Syrians, who sought the elevation of their gods over the traditional Roman gods.
With Decius' death, two decades of ruling chaos broke out, all succeeding emperors seizing power through military usurpation.
The next emperor was Gallus whose reign was another disaster with the Goths running amok.
Gallus died in 252 aftrer his troops switched loyalty to Aemiliannus and killed him; and when he was succeeded by Aemilius Aemiliannus - the former Governor of Moesia - there was a victory in the Balkans in 253, but eventually his troops, too, soured of his rule and killed him in 254.
The next emperor was Valerian, a Senator, who resumed the former attempt to suppress Christianity by confiscating their property if they refused to follow Roman sacrifice customs. He spent most of his time in the East, where Shapur defeated a Roman army in Syria.
Valerian died in 260 and his son, Gallienus, became emperor and immediately revoked his father's property confiscation of the Christians.
In 262 the Temple of Diana destroyed by Goths.
During Gallienus' reign, an edict removed Senators from military command, allowing them governance of non-military provinces where they owned property and giving border provinces, where trouble was most likely to break out, to low bred men.
During Gallienus' reign, too, the first of the so-called Gallic Emperors arose, governing their own territory, separate from Rome. Postumus, for instance, commanded all the provinces in the the north, west of the Alps - Gaul, Spain and Britain.
In 268 Gallienus was killed by his troups and Claudius Gothicus, one of Gallienus' generals responsible for his murder, became emperor.
Labels: 250, aemiliannus, claudius gothicus, decius, gallienus, gallus, valerian
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