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Probus – Roman Emperor: 276-282
A.D. –
Bronze Antoninianus 21mm (2.85 grams) Siscia mint: 280
A.D.
RIC 704h, C 92
IMPCMAVRPROBVSPFAVG – Radiate bust left, wearing
imperial mantle,
holding scepter with eagle atop.
PAXAVG Exe: T/XXI – Pax standing left, holding branch and scepter.
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Authenticity.
Eirene, or Irene Greek for “peace”;
the
Roman
equivalent was
Pax
, one of the
Horae
, was the
personification of peace, and was depicted in art as a
beautiful young woman carrying a
cornucopia
,
sceptre
and a torch or
rhyton
. She is said
sometimes to be the daughter of
Zeus
and
Themis
.
She was particularly well regarded by the
citizens of Athens
.
After a naval victory over
Sparta
in 375 BC, the
Athenians established a cult for Eirene, erecting
altars
to her. They
held an annual state sacrifice to her after 371 BC to
commemorate the
Common Peace
of that
year and set up a votive statue in her honour in the
Agora of Athens
. The
statue was executed in bronze by
Cephisodotus the Elder
,
likely the father or uncle of the famous sculptor
Praxiteles
. It was
acclaimed by the Athenians, who depicted it on vases and
coins.
Although the statue is now lost, it was copied in
marble by the Romans; one of the best surviving copies (right)
is in the
Munich
Glyptothek
. It depicts
the goddess carrying a child with her left arm –
Ploutos
, the god of
plenty and son of
Demeter
, the goddess of
agriculture. Eirene’s missing right hand once held a
sceptre. She is shown gazing maternally at Ploutos, who
is looking back at her trustingly. The statue is an
allegory for Plenty (Ploutos) prospering under the
protection of Peace (Eirene); it constituted a public
appeal to good sense. The copy in the Glyptothek was
originally in the collection of the
Villa Albani
in Rome
but was looted and taken to France by
Napoleon I
. Following
Napoleon’s fall, the statue was bought by
Ludwig I of Bavaria
.
In
Roman mythology
, Pax (Latin
for peace
)
(her
Greek
equivalent was
Eirene
) was recognized as a
goddess
during the rule of
Augustus
.
On the
Campus Martius
, she had a temple called the
Ara Pacis
,
and another temple on the
Forum Pacis
. She was depicted in art with
olive
branches, a
cornucopia
and a scepter. There was a festival in her honor on January 3. Daughter of
Jupiter
and
Iustitia
. Pax was often associated with spring.
Probus (Latin:
Marcus Aurelius Probus
Augustus; c. 19 August 232 –
September/October 282), was
Roman Emperor
from 276
to 282.
During his reign, the
Rhine
and
Danube
frontier was
strengthened after successful wars against several
Germanic tribes
such as
the
Goths
,
Alamanni
,
Longiones
,
Franks
,
Burgundians
, and
Vandals
. The
Agri Decumates
and much
of the
Limes Germanicus
in
Germania Superior
were
officially abandoned during his reign, with the Romans
withdrawing to the
Rhine
and
Danube
rivers.
Life
Born in 232 in
Sirmium
(modern day
Sremska Mitrovica
),
Pannonia Inferior
, the
son of Dalmatius, Probus entered the army around 250
upon reaching adulthood. Appointed as a
military tribune
by the
emperor
Valerian
, he later
distinguished himself under the emperors
Aurelian
and
Tacitus
. He was
appointed governor of the East by Tacitus, whose death
in 276 prompted Probus’ soldiers to proclaim him
emperor.
Florianus
, the
half-brother of Tacitus, was also proclaimed successor
by his soldiers, but he was killed after an indecisive
campaign.[9]
Probus travelled west, defeating the Goths along the
lower Danube in 277, and acquiring the title of
Gothicus. His position as emperor was ratified by
the
Senate
around this
time.
As Emperor
In 278, Probus campaigned successfully in
Gaul
against the
Alamanni
and
Longiones
; both tribes
had advanced through the
Neckar
valley and
across the Rhine into Roman territory. Meanwhile, his
generals defeated the
Franks
and these
operations were directed to clearing
Gaul
of Germanic
invaders (Franks
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.[14]
Of a greater and more lasting significance, Probus began
the strategy of settling the Germanic tribes in the
devastated provinces of the empire.
Antoninianus
of Probus minted in 280. Depicts the solar
divinity
Sol Invictus
riding a
quadriga
.
Probus issued many different coins during
his six years of rule.
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 then
ordered the reconstruction of bridges and canals along
the Nile, where the production of grain for the Empire
was centered.
In 280-281, Probus 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. 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,
travelling first towards Sirmium, his birth city. About
Probus’ death different accounts exist. According to
John Zonaras
, the
commander of the
Praetorian Guard
Marcus Aurelius Carus
had been proclaimed, more or less unwillingly, emperor
by his troops.
Assassination (282)
Probus sent some troops against the new usurper, but
when those troops changed sides and supported Carus,
Probus’ remaining soldiers assassinated him at Sirmium
(September/October 282). According to other sources,
however, Probus was killed by disgruntled soldiers, who
rebelled against his orders to be employed for civic
purposes, like draining marshes.[24]
Carus was proclaimed emperor after Probus’ death and
avenged the murder of his predecessor.
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