Probus

Probus ( Marcus Aurelius Probus ) (v. 232 - 282), is Roman Emperor of 276 with 282. Inheriting a reunified Roman Empire, it continues the work of security of the borders and economic rebuilding started by Aurélien.

Its origins

Probus was born with Sirmium, capital of the Pannonia. Its family origins are dubious (wire of military powerful orator or farmer), but its military career would have been brilliant: Valérien notices it and the command of a legion entrusts to him. It fights the German ones and the Sarmates, would have carried out missions of pacification in Africa in the area of Carthage. It takes part in the campaigns of Aurélien against Zénobie.

Its accession with the capacity

In end 275 or beginning 276, Tacite promotes it ordering army of the East ( dux orientis ), to ensure the protection of Syria and Egypt. With died of Tacit in June 276, Probus is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers. Probus invites the murderers of Tacit with an imperial banquet, and the fact of massacring.

The brother of Tacit, Florien, also were done proclaimed emperor. Its soldiers assassinate it and join in Probus. Probus can make ratify its proclamation by the Roman Sénat.

Its reign

In 276 and 277, Gaulle is devastated in-depth by raids of the Francs and Alamans. The army of Probus intercepts these groups of German on their return towards the Rhine, and inflicts terrible defeats to them. The Histoire Auguste affirms that 400.000 barbarians were killed, 16.000 enlisted in the Roman army, and all their recovered spoils. These figures appear inflated, but the reconstitution of Roman manpower by cruel quotas is a tendency which will nothing but do be accentuated.

In 277 and 278, Probus continues the Roman intervention beyond the Rhine, and recovers the control of the Champs Décumates, covering strategic between the Rhine and the Danube lost in 268 pennies Gallien. These actions and the reorganization of the Limes of the Rhine put for a time Gaulle at the shelter of the German raids, but of many cities were victims of the raids of 276.

From 278 to 279, Probus continues its victorious campaigns in Rhétie against the Vandales and the Burgondes, in Thrace against the bands Sarmates. In same time its legates bring back the order in Isaurie by reducing a brigand chief, Lydius or Palfurnius, and in Egypt against the incursions of the wandering tribes Blemmyes.

Lastly, this pacification of the borders is completed by the signature of a truce with the king of Perse Vahram II.

Some attempts at usurpation, which are rather local revolts, are easily subdued:

In 280, Saturninus is proclaimed with Alexandria. When the army faithful to Probus comes to besiege Saturninus with Apamée in Syria, this last is assassinated by its soldiers who prefer to avoid the confrontation.
In 280, with Cologne Bonosus which let the German ones set fire to the fleet of the Rhine proclaims emperor to avoid the punishment of this fault. It is beaten and commits suicide.
In 281, the inhabitants of Lugdunum (Lyon) proclaim the rich person owner Proculus. This one arms 2000 slaves. As soon as Probus goes on Lugdunum, Proculus flees, and takes refuge at the Francs. Those deliver it to Probus, which makes it carry out.

The impromptu character of these attempts testifies at the same time to a relative improvement of the discipline of the armies, compared to the period of multiple insurrections of the previous decade, and also of the aggravation of populations affected by the insecurity and the economic crisis.

Its reforms

Probus takes measures of economic improvement, in others in favor of agriculture:

it abolishes the edict of Domitien (81-96) which prohibited the plantation of news Vigne S out of Italy, thus authorizing the extension of the production of wine in Spain and a Gaulle
it installs on abandoned arable lands of the small groups of German. These colonists, appointed by various terms (Déditice S, Lètes, gentiles) were strongly imposed and mobilizable where necessary. Many Francs and Alamans are established thus as colonists or Auxiliaires in Gaulle Belgium and along the Rhine.
it launches work of public interest, roadway system, drainage and allowance of the grounds, to which it compels also the troops. papyruses found in Egypt testify that Probus obliges the owners to maintain the channels Irrigation, under penalty of severe sanctions.

Its end

In 281, Probus can finally celebrate its Triomphe in Rome and give splendid plays: tournaments of 600 gladiators, decorations of hundreds of trees for huntings with exotic thousands of animals.

In 282, Probus entrusts the defense of the Occident to the Préfet of the court Carus and gets under way towards the East, to undertake the conquest of the Arménie and the Mésopotamie against Persians. In way, it charges the soldiers with drainage works around Sirmium. During a factory inspectorate, he scolds tired soldiers of this work, and causes a violent reaction: he is killed at the time of this scuffle.

Successive names

Towards 232, is born Marcus Aurelius Probus
September 276, reaches the Empire: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus
279, receives the nicknames Gothicus Maximus Germanicus Maximus Persicus Maximus
282, titulature with its death: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Gothicus Maximus Germanicus Maximus Persicus Maximus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribuniciae Potestatis VII, Imperator I, Consul V, Patriae Lord's Prayer.

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