Italy: Icon of Claudius II (210-270), 42nd Roman emperor, from the book Icones imperatorvm romanorvm (Icons of Roman Emperors), Antwerp, c. 1645

Claudius II (210-270), also known as Claudius Gothicus, was of Illyrian origin and barbarian birth. He was a career soldier, having served his entire adult life in the Roman army. He was a military tribune in Emperor Gallienus' army during the siege of Milan in 268 when Gallienus was murdered by his own ofifcials, possibly including Claudius. Claudius was then proclaimed emperor by his own soldiers, possibly because of his physical strength and cruelty.

Claudius, like the previous barbarian emperor Maximinus Thrax, was a soldier-emperor, the first in a series that would restore the Empire from the disaster that had been the Crisis of the Third Century. The Empire had been divided into three different entities under the reign of Gallienus, with the Gallic Empire in the West and Palmyrene Empire in the East. Claudius, however, focused his immediate attentions on dealing with foreign invaders, defeating the Goths during the Battle of Naissus in one of the greatest victories in Roman history, earning him the surname 'Gothicus' (conquerer of the Goths).

He then turned his attention to the Gallic Empire, winning several victories and regaining control of Hispania and parts of Gaul. He was killed by the Plague of Cyprian in January 270 before he could finish off the Gallic Empire however, naming Aurelian as his successor.

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