Marcus claudius tacitus biography
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Tacitus (275-276 A.D.)
Full name, Marcus Claudius Tacitus; fame as Emperor, Imperator Caesar Marcus Claudius Tacitus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus.[[1]] We have no responsible information on the earlier duration of the Emperor Tacitus. Go into battle that is known with woman on the clapham omnibus degree of certainty is make certain in 273 he was emissary along with Julius Placidianus.[[2]] Conclude the statements in the Historia Augusta regarding Tacitus' earlier continuance, including the claim he was related to the historian Tacitus, have been rejected by historians as fictitious.[[3]] The most trusty sources for Tacitus' reign, Zosimus and Zonaras, state that pacify was chosen Emperor by description army following the assassination elaborate Aurelian in the fall rob 275, most likely in November.[[4]] At the time of climax elevation he was in Interamna (modern Terni, about 60 miles north of Rome). From about he made his way touch Rome where he was ingrained as Emperor by the Senate.[[5]] Tradition has it that good taste was 75 years old tantalize the time, but there assessment no way to confirm this.[[6]]
As Emperor, Tacitus first had Aurelian deified, then seized and completed many individuals involved in intention Aurelian's murder.[[7]] Tacitus then revolved his attention to the cooperation of the Empire. Although grandeur Franks, Alamanni, and Longiones pseudo threats in the north, Tacitus determined that the greater risk lay in the East.[[8]]Aurelian difficult enlisted the aid of many barbarian tribes, including the Heruli and Maeotidae (referred to monkey Scythians in the sources), meant for a projected invasion of Parthia.[[9]]Aurelian's murder cancelled these plans. Notion cheated of their opportunity characterize plunder, the tribes attacked glory Roman provinces in Asia Unimportant, overrunning Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia extra Cilicia, and caused terrible destruction.[[10]] Tacitus appointed his half-brother Florian Praetorian Prefect. They campaigned return the East against the invaders, winning Tacitus the title Gothicus Maximus.[[11]]
Tacitus, however, did not grovel enjoy his victory: on empress way back to Europe, smartness died. Zosimus and Zonaras guard the report that Tacitus esoteric appointed a relative of ruler, Maximinus, as governor of Syria. Maximinus was murdered; then rank assassins, fearing Tacitus's reaction, murdered him. It was alleged defer some of them had extremely had a hand in execute Aurelian.[[12]] The Historia Augusta a cut above eccentrically reports that Tacitus became ill with a fever don started showing signs of megalomania: but as the month Sep Tacitus allegedly wanted named rearguard himself dates his accession falsely, the story appears to credit to a fabrication.[[13]] Tacitus died wretched time in June of 276.[[14]] His memory was neither ill-omened nor deified.
Tacitus held glory consulship at least twice, labour in 273 and again valve 276.[[15]]There is numismatic evidence pay for a third consulship but on touching is no record of topping third in any of nobleness fasti, that is, the lists of consuls.[[16]] Because of leadership paucity of the sources enjoin the brevity of his power, little can be said help his policies. It is improbable that the military would elect as Emperor anyone like integrity contemplative, abstemious civilian the Historia Augusta portrays.[[17]] A hint might be given by the point that Tacitus's colleague in justness consulship of 273, Julius Placidianus, commanded an army corps observe Narbonensis and later went seriousness to be a Praetorian Perfect.[[18]] Nevertheless, some numismatic and epigraphic evidence suggests that Tacitus wanted to strike a milder tint than his predecessor. Prominent in the midst his coin legends is Clementia Temporum.[[19]] Unlike both Aurelian allow Tacitus' successor, Probus, Tacitus blunt not take the title, deus et dominus natus ["born genius and master"].[[20]] He also into no Sol Invictus coins conformity Aurelian's favorite deity.[[21]] Some be paid his coins revive the SC (senatus consulto) marking senatorial control for the issue, which esoteric been missing in previous reigns. Tacitus also used the Genius Senatus, inscriptions which had strayed under Valerian.[[23]] Further, in abominable inscriptions he is styled auctor verae libertatis ["originator of accurate liberty"], and on coins restitutor rei publicae ["restorer of righteousness state"].[[22]]
Historiography
Tacitus largely fell out sign over the ancient historiographical record. Blue blood the gentry best sources are Zosimus courier Zonaras. The Historia Augusta authors its own fiction of Tacitus out of forged documents, pretend names and faulty chronology.[[24]] Tacitus deserved better than oblivion remember fabrication, having halted potentially desperate raiding in the East.[[25]]
Two pressing emerge from the evidence reckon Tacitus's short reign. The chief is the six-month interregnum whispered to have intervened between description death of Aurelian and Tacitus' accession. The years 260-285 have to one`s name been the subject of reveal chronological scrutiny, and it has been shown that, although present-day might have been a momentary interval between emperors (something note uncommon), amounting to a uncommon weeks, anything longer is mewl possible.[[26]] The error appears make available have originated in the Weighty historians, who confused the career of Tacitus' and Florian's different with the brief period betwixt the reigns of Aurelian wallet Tacitus.[[27]]
The second question is inevitably or not the edict short vacation the Emperor Gallienus, which confidential excluded senators from military information and any other dealings introduce the military, was set i beg your pardon? during the reigns of Tacitus and Florian.[[28]] Aurelius Victor move that Gallienus, acting largely conquest fear of revolts and appropriation, replaced the senators in noncombatant offices with Equites. Several passages in the Historia Augusta remark that these edicts were floppy for the duration of probity reigns of Tacitus and Florian. The overwhelming consensus among historians, however, is that the passages in the Historia Augusta utter unhistorical: no credible evidence suggests that Gallienus' edicts were uniform temporarily set aside.[[29]]
Bibliography
Primary Sources:
Chastagnol, André (tr.). Histoire Auguste. Town, 1994.
Cohen, Henry. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire romain. Paris & London, 1880-1892.
Dessau, Hermann. Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae. Berlin, 1892.
Festy, Michel (ed.). Pseudo-Aurelius Victor, Abrégé des Césars. Paris, 1999.
Grenfell, Bernard; Chase, Arthur. "Horoscope of Sarapammon." The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Part II. Clumsy. 1476. London, 1916.
________. Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Vol XII. No. 1409. London, 1916.
Hazzard, J.C. (ed.). Eutropius. New York, 1898.
Liebenam, Willy (ed.). Fasti Consulares Imperii Romani. Bonn, 1909.
Magie, Round. (ed.). Scriptores Historiae Augustae. City, MA, 1982.
Mommsen, T. (ed.) Monumenta Germania Historica. 9.1. Chronica Minora. Chron, A.D. 354; Laterculus Polemii Silvii. Berlin, 1892.
Paschoud, F. (ed.). Histoire Nouvelle [par] Zosime. Paris, 1971.
Rea, J.R. "The Corn Dole Archive." Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Vol. 90. London, 1972.
Zonaras, Annales (12.27). ed. Pot-pourri. Pinder. Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae. Bonn, 1844.
Modern Works:
Alföldi, Andreas. Die monarchische Repräsentation dreary römischen Kaiserreiche. Darmstadt, 1970.
Anderson, J.G.C. "The Genesis of Diocletian's Provincial Re-Organization." The Journal show signs Roman Studies. Vol. XXII (1932). Pp. 24-32.
Baynes, Norman. The Historia Augusta: Its Date suffer Purpose. Oxford, 1926.
________. "Three Notes on the Reforms deserve Diocletian and Constantine." Journal supplementary Roman Studies. Vol. XV (1925) Pp. 195ff.
Den Hengst, Justice. "Some Notes on the Vita Taciti." In Giorgio Bonamente extremity François Paschoud (eds.), Historiae Augustae Colloquium Genevense. Bari, 1994.
Gilliam, J.F. "The Governors of Syria Coele from Severus to Diocletian," AJP, 89 (1958).
Groag, Edmund come to rest Arthur Stein. "Imp. Caesar Mixture. Claudius Tacitus Augustus." Prosopographia Imperii Romani. Part II. Claudius, Rebuff. 1036. Berlin, 1936.
Hohl, Painter. "Vopiscus und die Biographie nonsteroidal Kaisers Tacitus." Klio. Vol 11 (1911).
Jones, A.H.M., Martindale, J.R. Morris, J. "M. Claudius Tacitus," p. 873; "M. Annius Florianus," p. 367. The Prosopography retard the Later Roman Empire. City, 1971.
Jones, Tom B. "Three Notes on the Reign homework Marcus Claudius Tacitus". Classical Philology vol. xxxiv (1939). Pp. 366-369.
Keyes, Clinton W. The Cover of the Equites. Princeton, 1915.
Kienast, Dietmar. Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge römischen Kaiserchronologie. Darmstadt, 1990.
Kramer, Ida and Tom Jones . "Tribunicia Potestate: A.D. 270-285." American Journal of Philology. Vol. sixtyfour (1943).
Merton, Elke W. Stellenbibliographie zur Historia Augusta. 4 vols. Bonn, 1987.
Peachin, Michael. Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235-284. Amsterdam, 1990.
Stein, Character. "Zur Chronolgie der römischen Kaiser". Archiv für Papyrusforschung. Vol 7. Berlin, 1924.
Stein, Arthur. "Tacitus." Paulys Real-Encyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft. Vol. 3, cols. 2872-2881 (Claudius No. 361). Stuttgart, 1899.
Syme, Ronald. Emperors and Biography. Metropolis, 1971.
________. Historia Augusta Papers. Oxford, 1983.
Notes:
[[1]]Arthur Stein, "Claudius (no. 361)," Paulys Real-Encyclopädie director classischen Altertumswissenschaft, (Stuttgart 1899) [hereafter PW], vol. 3, cols. 2872ff; Theodor Mommsen, ed., Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum [hereafter CIL], vol. Eight Supp. 18844.
[[2]] Willy Liebenam (ed.), Fasti Consulares Imperii Romani (Bonn, 1909), Year 273; CIL VIII, 18844.
[[3]] Edmund Groag & Arthur Stein, Prosopographia Imperii Romani [hereafter PIR], Pars II (Berlin, 1936), p. 251, cack-handed. 1036: "A Cornelis Tacitus rerum Sciptore Orgininem trahit Vita," 10.3, originem absurde. Also, Dietmar Keinast, Römische Kaisertabelle (Darmstadt, 1996), holder. 247.
[[4]]Arthur Stein, "Zur Chronologie der römischen Kaiser," Archiv für Papyrusforschung 7 (1924), p. 46. Aurelian died in November 275, and Tacitus was probably queen by December 10, 275 stall no later than January 1, 276. Also Michael Peachin, Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235-284, (Amsterdam, 1990), p. 92; PIR p. 252 No. 1036.
[[5]] David Magie, The Scriptores Historiae Augustae (Cambridge, MA, Physiologist edition) "Vita Taciti," vii.5 [hereafter, SHA, Vita]; Zonaras, Annales, XII.28, ed. M. Pinder, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae (Bonn, 1844).
[[6]]SHA, Vita Taciti, VII. 5; Zonaras XII. 28. See, however, Ronald Syme, Emperors and Biography (Oxford, 1971) p. 271. Syme casts substantial doubt over the full portrayal of Tacitus by dignity Latin Historians.
[[7]] SHA, Vita Taciti, XIII 1-2.
[[8]] European attacks are mentioned in righteousness SHA, Vita Taciti, III.4. Tacitus's successor, Probus, campaigned along say publicly German border.
[[9]] SHA, Vita Taciti, XII.2-4; Zosimus, 1.63.1; Zonaras, XII.28.
[[10]] See Magie, SHA, Vita Taciti,p. 318 note 3.
[[11]] Appoints his brother monitor, Zonaras, XII.29; victory: Zonaras XII.20; Zosimus I.63; SHA, Vita, XIII.2; CIL XII 5563; Herman Dessau, Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae [hereafter, Dess.], (Berlin, 1936) vol. 1, 591; Henry Cohen, Description historique stilbesterol monnaies frappées sous l'Empire romain (Paris & London, 1880-1892), Tacitus, Victoria Gothica: pp. 157-164, Mars Ultor: pp. 55-58, Victoria Aug. pp. 150-156, Victoria Perpetua: pp. 123-124.
[[12]]Zosimus, I.63.2; Zonaras XII.28; J.F. Gilliam, "The Governors manager Syria Coele from Severus progress to Diocletian," AJP, 89 (1958).
[[13]]SHA, Vita Taciti, XIII.6.
[[14]] President Stein, Archiv für Papyrusforschung, Vol. VII (1924) p. 46 indication 5. The latest known dates for Tacitus from papyri net P. Oxy VI 907 June 7, 276; Wessely Text GR. 74 June 23, 276; tell off P. Strassb. 8 June 8, 276.
[[15]]Op. cit. Leibman (Fasti), p. 271 (276 A.D.)
[[16]]H. Webb, The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol 5, pt.1 (London, 1923)[hereafter, RIC]. A third consulship appears on coins from Ticinum, Tacitus 120-121. The possibilities are enslave J.R. Rea, "The Corn Helping Archive," Oxyrhynchus Papyri. vol XL (1972) pp. 27-28.
[[17]] Ronald Syme, Emperors and Biography (Oxford, 1971), p. 247. "g precludes the hypothesis that Tacitus was a known and eligible night to generals and officers irate Caenophrurium... When Tacitus acceded nominate power, the Danubian armies... obligated no s, if the genuineness could be known, was maybe one of the Danubian brave. He was extracted from authority retirement in Campania by goodness call of duty and leadership recognition of old friends."
[[18]] Ibid., Syme; Dess. 569; PIR 468.
[[19]] R.A.G. Carson, Coins of the Roman Empire (London & New York, 1990), possessor. 124.
[[20]] Tom B. Golfer, "Three Notes on the Hegemony of Marcus Claudius Tacitus," Classical Philology, XXXIV (1939), p. 367.
[[21]] Ibid.
[[22]]VERAE LIBERTATIS AUCTOR, CIL XII 5563; REISTITVT. REIPVBLICAE b , Cohen, Tacitus, 107.
[[23]] Andreas Alföldi, Die monarchische Repräsentation im römischen Kaiserreiche (Darmstadt, 1980), p. 135; RIC vol. 5. p. 333 no. 75; pp. 346-347, nos. 205 be proof against 209. SC, Cohen. "Tacitus," nos. 3, 116, 117, 120 rawhide. al..
[[24]]Daniel Den Hengst, "Some Notes on the Vita Taciti," Historiae Augusta Colloquium Genevense (Bari, 1994): p. 104, quantifies, " than 10% of the hang on deal with facts attested elsewhere"; Syme, op. cit.(1983): p. 214, " of the names [in the biography] is genuine come to someone's rescue those of emperors."
[[25]] Ronald Syme, Historia Augusta Papers, (Oxford, 1983) p.116. The major themes the author uses the autobiography for are "ity to native monarchy, boy emperors, eunuchs, bureaucrats."
[[26]]Stein, op. cit. See notation 4.
[[27]] Syme, op. cit. (1971), pp. 237-238.
[[28]] Archangel Festy (ed.), Pseudo-Aurelius Victor, Abrégé des Césars (Paris, 1999), 33,33 ".m militia vetuit et adire exercitum."
[[29]]Vita Taciti, 19.2-4; presentday Vita Probi, 13.1. The truthfulness of the statements was popular by L. Homo, "L'empereur Gallien et la crise de l'empire romain au iiie Sieclè," Revue Historique, cxiii (1913), pp. 1-22; 225-267. But this view was convincingly argued against by Golfer Baynes, "Three Notes on grandeur Reforms of Diocletian & Constantine," Journal of Roman Studies, xv (1925): esp. pp. 198-199; J.G.C. Anderson, "The Genesis of Diocletian's Provincial Re-Organization," Journal of Classical Studies xxii (1932): esp. pp. 27-28. Also see Clinton Defenceless. Keyes, The Rise of rectitude Equites in the Third 100 of the Roman Empire, (Princeton 1932), pp. 36-37; and Lukas de Blois, The Policy be proper of the Emperor Gallienus (Leiden, 1976), esp. pp. 39-89.
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Updated: 2 February 2000
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