| Part of a series on Roman imperial dynasties |
| Year of the Six Emperors |
|---|
| AD 238 |
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Balbinus (Latin: Decimus Caelius Calvinus Balbinus Pius Augustus; c. 178 – 29 July 238), was a Roman Emperor who reigned for three months, from 22 April 238 to 29 July 238, during the Year of Six Emperors. He ruled alongside Pupienus and Gordian III,
Life edit
In 238 the Gordian Dynasty rose up against Emperor Maximinus in Africa Proconsularis (Roman Africa), with Gordian I and Gordian II declaring themselves the Roman Emperors. In order to accomplish this, they sent a delegation of centurions to Rome to assassinate Publius Aelius Vitalianus, the Praetorian prefect and to spread a rumor that Maximinus had been killed while campaigning against the Sarmatians. The Senate believed the rumor and recognized Gordian I and his son Gordian II as co-emperors in 238. However their reigns were cut short by Capillianus, the governor of Numidia, who invaded Africa and killed Gordian II during the Battle of Carthage; Gordian I hung himself shortly thereafter out of grief, either 21 or 36 days after being declared emperors. After the news of the death of both emperors reached Rome, Balbinus was a member of a twenty senator committee created to elect a new emperor, resulting in the election of Balbinus and Pupienus, who had also been a member of the committee, on 22 April 238.[1][2][3] Shortly after the election, large crowds gathered in Rome,
Following the death of both emperors, the Senate formed a committee of twenty senators to elect the new emperor, resulting in the election of
In the same year, Capillianus, governor of Numidia, invaded Africa and succeeded in killing Gordian II during the Battle of Carthage. Gordian I, shortly thereafter, hanged himself out of grief, either 21 or 36 days after being declared emperor. Following the news of both emperors' deaths, the Senate formed a committee of twenty senators to elect the next emperor, resulting in the election of two of the senators on the committee, Pupienus and Balbinus, on 22 April 238.[1][2][3] Large crowds gathered in Rome, demanding that a blood relative of Gordian I also be made emperor. The Senate conceded and elected Gordian III, the son of Gordian I's daughter Antonia Gordiana, as the third emperor on 27 May 238.[1] News of the Gordians' rebellion reached Maximinus, who was still campaigning against the Sarmatians in Pannonia and he marched on Italy with his Pannonian Legions. He attempted to gain the allegiance of the fortified city of Aquileia but failed and laid siege to it.[1] His troops became disaffected during the unexpected siege, at which time they suffered from famine and disease. In May 238, Maximinus' soldiers rose up and killed him, along with his son, Maximus.[4][5] On 29 July 238, Pupienus and Balbinus were killed by the Praetorian Guard, who proclaimed Gordian III sole emperor.[6][7]
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d Laale 2011, p. 273.
- ^ a b Hekster 2008, p. 14.
- ^ a b Pearson 2016, p. 135.
- ^ Bunson 2014, p. 360.
- ^ Laale 2011, pp. 273–274.
- ^ Laale 2011, p. 274.
- ^ Adkins & Adkins 2014, p. 27.
Bibliography edit
External links edit
- McMahon, Robin. "Roman Emperors - DIR Pupienus and Balbinus". www.roman-emperors.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.