Probus - Roman Emperor: 276-282 A.D. -
Bronze Antoninianus 23mm (3.0 grams) Rome mint: 279 A.D.
Reference: RIC 157f, C 37
IMPPROBVSAVG - Radiate, cuirassed bust right.
ADVENTVSAVG Exe: R (crescent) Δ - Probus riding horse left, raising hand and
holding scepter; seated captive to left.
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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).
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