Italy: Marble bust of Balbinus (178-238), joint 30th Roman emperor, from the book Icones imperatorvm romanorvm (Icons of Roman Emperors), Antwerp, c. 1645

Balbinus (178-238), like his eventual co-emperor Pupienus, was a senator and politican of the Roman Empire. There is little known information about Balbinus before his ascenion to joint emperor, but what is known is that he had served as consul twice, and may have governed multiple provinces.

After the Senate recognised the Gordians as co-emperors in 238 in defiance of current Emperor Maximinus Thrax, Balbinus was appointed to a committee alongside Pupienus to try and coordinate operations agaisnt Maximinus until the Gordians could arrive in Rome. The Gordians died less than a month after their ascension however, and the senate become divided in what to do next, with some wishing for Gordian III to become emperor, as the Gordians had been well liked by the people of Rome. Ultimately, Balbinus and Pupienus were declared as co-emperors. This led to riots and civil unrest in the capital, especially with the Praetorian Guard, who despised the idea of Senate-elected emperors.

While Pupienus oversaw the campaign against Maximinus, Balbinus was left to deal with public order in Rome, a duty he failed at. Pupienus soon returned victorious, and Balbinus began to suspect that his co-emperor was planning to supplant him, leading to constant quarrels and fighting. Their disagreements ultimately left them open to assassination by the Praetorian Guard, who dragged them naked through the streets, publicly humiliating, torturing and then finally executing them.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History