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Quintillus was born in Sirmium (now Sremska Mitrovica,
Serbia)in Illyricum. He was brother of Roman Emperor Claudius II, and
became Emperor himself in 270.
In
Roman mythology, Fides ("trust")
was the goddess of
trust. Her
Greek equivalent was
Pistis. Her temple on the
Capitol was where the
Roman Senate kept state treaties with
foreign countries, where Fides protected them. She was also worshipped
under the name Fides Publica Populi Romani ("trust towards the
Roman state"). She is represented by a young woman crowned with an olive
branch, with a cup or
turtle, or a military ensign in hand.
She wears a white veil or stola; her priests wear white.
Rome's second king,
Numa Pompilius instituted a yearly
festival to Fides, and directed the priests to be borne to Her temple in
an arched chariot drawn by two horses and should conduct Her services
with their hands wrapped up to indicate protection.
Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus (ca 220 -
April 270) was born in
Sirmium (now
Sremska Mitrovica,
Serbia)in
Illyricum. He was brother of
Roman Emperor
Claudius II, and became
Emperor himself in 270. Quintillus'
origin is uncertain. He was either from
Sirmium (Syrmia;
in
Pannonia Inferior) or from Naissus
Dardania (in
Moesia Superior); both areas are
located in
Serbia. His parents were Flavius
Numerius and wife Claudia (b. ca 190), and his brothers were Flavius
Crispius (b. ca 210), married to Aurelia Pompeiana (b. ca 210) with whom
he had children, and
Claudius II. His maternal grandparents
were
Claudius Apellinus,
Governor of
Britannia Inferior, and wife Bassina
(b. ca 170).
Historia Augusta reports that he
became Emperor in a
coup d'état.
Eutropius reports Quintillus to have
been elected by
soldiers of the
Roman army immediately following the
death of his brother. The choice was reportedly approved by the
Roman Senate.
Joannes Zonaras however reports him
elected by the Senate itself.
Records however agree that the
legions which had followed Claudius in
campaigning along the
Danube were either unaware or
disapproving of Quintillus' elevation. They instead elevated their
current leader
Aurelian to the rank of
Augustus. Historia Augusta
reports Aurelian to have been chosen by Claudius himself as a successor,
apparently in a deathbed decision.
Reign of Quintillus
The few records of Quintillus' reign are
contradictory. They disagree on the length of his reign, variously
reported to have lasted as few as 17 days and as many as 177 days (about
six months). He was a
Consul in 270, for 77 days. Records
also disagree on the cause of his death. Historia Augusta reports
him
murdered by his own soldiers in
reaction to his strict
military discipline.
Jerome reports him killed, presumably
in conflict with Aurelian.
John of Antioch and Joannes Zonaras
reported Quintillus to have committed
suicide by opening his
veins and bleeding himself to death.
John reports the suicide to have been assisted by a
physician.
Claudius Salmasius pointed that
Dexippus recorded the death without
stating causes. All records however agree in placing the death at
Aquileia.
Quintillus was reportedly survived by his two sons.
Historia Augusta reports Claudius and
Quintillus having another brother named Crispus and through him a niece,
Claudia. who reportedly married Eutropius and was mother to
Constantius Chlorus. Historians however
suspect this account to be a
genealogical
fabrication to flatter
Constantine I.
Surviving Roman records considered Quintillus a
moderate and capable Emperor. He was seen as a champion of the Senate
and thus compared to previous Emperors
Servius Sulpicius Galba and
Publius Helvius Pertinax. All three
were highly regarded by Senatorial sources despite their failure to
survive a full year of reign.
