Italy: Probus (232-282), 47th Roman emperor, from the book Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis, 1583

Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) was a career soldier, having entered the army as soon as he reached adulthood sometime in 250. He distinguished himself under Emperors Valerian, Aurelian and Tacitus, and when Tacitus died in 276, Probus' soldiers proclaimed him emperor, despite a rival claim by Florianus, Tacitus' half-brother. Though Florianus' reign is recognised, it was brief and lasted only eighty-eight days, as he was soon murdered by his own troops after losing a battle against Probus. Probus was ratified as emperor after this.

The first years of his reign saw him campaign successfully against the Germanic tribes in Gaul, and he began the strategy of settling the conquered Germanic tribes in the devastated provinces of the empire, to rebuild and restart them. He also put down at least three revolts and usurpers between 280-281, as well as fighting against the Blemmyes in Egypt and the Vandals in Illyricum.

In 282, the commander of the Praetorian Guard Marcus Aurelius Carus had been proclaimed, probably unwillingly, as emperor by his soldiers. Probus sent troops to defeat the usurper, but they turned on him and supported Carus' claim, while his remaining soldiers assassinated him near the end of the year. Other sources claimed that the soldiers murdered him due to being ordered to complete civic purposes such as draining marshes, something they considered beneath them.

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