Procopius Usurper w Labarum 365AD Rare Ancient Roman Coin Christ Chi-Rho i31530

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest

christograms

used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the

first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word

Christ

(

Greek

 : “Χριστός” ), chi = ch and rho = r, in such a way to produce

the monogram

☧. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to

mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the

combined

letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning “good.” Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion

of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early

evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century.

The labarum (Greek:

λάβαρον) was a

(military standard) that displayed the “Chi-Rho”

symbol, formed from the first two

Greek letters

of the word “Christ”

(Greek:

ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ)

and Rho (ρ).

It was first used by the

Roman emperor

Constantine I

. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from

the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize

crucifixion

. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by Greek scribes to

mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the

combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning

“good.”

Procopius (326 – May 27, 366), was a Roman usurper against Valentinian I,
and member of the Constantinian dynasty.

According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Procopius was a native of Cilicia. On his
mother’s side, Procopius was cousin of Emperor Julian.

Procopius took part in the emperor Julian’s campaign against the Persian Empire
in 363. He was entrusted with leading 30,000 men towards Armenia, joining King
Arsaces, and later return to Julian camp. At the time of Julian’s death, there
were rumors that he had intended Procopius to be his successor, but when Jovian
was elected emperor by the Roman army, Procopius went into hiding to preserve
his life. The ancient historians differ on the exact details of Procopius’ life
in hiding, but agree that he returned to public knowledge at Chalcedon before
the house of the senator Strategius suffering from starvation and ignorant of
current affairs.

By that time, Jovian was dead, and Valentinian I shared the purple with his
brother Valens. Procopius immediately moved to declare himself emperor. He
bribed two legions that were resting at Constantinople to support his efforts,
and took control of the imperial city. Shortly after this he proclaimed himself
Emperor on September 28, 365, and quickly took control of the provinces of
Thrace, and later Bithynia.

Valens was left with the task of dealing with this rebel, and over the next
months struggled with both cities and units that wavered in their allegiance.
Eventually their armies met at the Battle of Thyatira, and Procopius’ forces
were defeated. He fled the battlefield, but was betrayed to Valens by two of his
remaining followers. Valens had all three executed May 27, 366.