Probus - Roman Emperor: 276-282
A.D. -
Bonze Antoninianus 21mm (3.3 grams) Rome mint: 280 A.D.
IMPCMAVRPROBVSAVG - Radiate, draped bust right.
FELICITASAVG Exe: Γ/XXI
- Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and
cornucopia.
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In
Roman mythology, Felicitas (meaning "good luck" or "fortune") was the
goddess or personification of good luck and success. The word felicitas, "luck", is also the source of the word and name
felicity. She played an important
role in
Rome's state religion during the
empire,
and was frequently portrayed on
coins. She became a prominent symbol of the wealth and prosperity of the
Roman
Empire.
Felicitas was unknown before the mid-2nd century BC, when a temple was
dedicated to her in the
Velabrum in
the
Campus Martius by
Lucius Licinius Lucullus, using booty from his 151–150 BC campaign in Spain.
The temple was destroyed by a fire during the reign of
Claudius
and was never rebuilt.
Another temple in
Rome was planned by
Julius Caesar and was erected after his death by
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus on the site of the
Curia Hostilia, which had been restored by
Lucius Cornelius Sulla but demolished by Caesar in 44 BC. This temple no
longer existed by the time of
Hadrian, and
its site probably lies under the church of
Santi Martina e Luca.
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). |