Trebonianus Gallus

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Trebonianus Gallus
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Trebonianus Gallus on a coin celebrating Aeternitas.
Reign	251 (with Volusianus and Hostilian); 251 - 3 (with Volusianus)
Full name	Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus
Born	206
Birthplace	Italy
Died	August 253
Place of death	Interamna
Predecessor	Decius and Herennius Etruscus
Successor	Aemilianus
Wife	Afinia Gemina Baebiana
Issue	Gaius Vibius Volusianus, Vibia Galla
Father	Senatorial family

Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 - August, 253), was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253, in a joint rule with his son Volusianus.

Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of senatorial background. He had two children in his marriage with Afinia Gemina Baebiana: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. His early career was typical with several appointments, both political and military. He was suffect consul and in 250 was nominated governor of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, an appointment that showed the confidence of emperor Trajan Decius in him. In Moesia, Gallus was a key figure in repelling the frequent invasion attacks by the Gothic tribes of the Danube and became popular with the army.

In June 251, Decius and his co-emperor and son Herennius Etruscus died in the Battle of Abrittus, at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire, largely owing to the failure of Gallus to attack aggressively. When the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite Hostilian, Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. While Gallus marched on Rome, an outbreak of plague struck the city and killed young Hostilian. With absolute power now on his hands, Gallus nominated his son Volusianus co-emperor.

Bronze of Gallus dating from the time of his reign as Roman Emperor, the only surviving near-complete full-size 3rd century Roman bronze (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Eager to show himself competent and gain popularity with the citizens, Gallus swiftly dealt with the epidemic, providing burial for the victims. Gallus is often accused of persecuting the Christians, but the only solid evidence of this allegation is the imprisoning of Pope Cornelius in 252.

Like his predecessors, Gallus did not have an easy reign. In the East, Persian Emperor Shapur I invaded and conquered the province of Syria, without any response from Rome. On the Danube, the Gothic tribes were once again on the loose, despite the peace treaty signed in 251. The army was not pleased with the emperor and when Aemilianus, governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia, took the initiative of battle and defeated the Goths, the soldiers proclaimed him emperor. With a usurper threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for a fight. He recalled several legions and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from the Rhine frontier. Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched onto Italy ready to fight for his claim. Gallus did not have the chance to face him in battle: he and Volusianus were murdered by their own troops in August 253, in Interamna.

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[edit] External links

• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Bronze of Trebonianus Gallus
• The Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trebonianus Gallus.