Previous   Next
Home » Images » 0072 Pictures From History » CPA0035912

Italy: Florianus (-276), 46th Roman emperor, from the book Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis, 1583

Italy: Florianus (-276), 46th Roman emperor, from the book <i>Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis</i>, 1583

Florianus (-276), also known as Florian, was the maternal half-brother of Emperor Tacitus. He was made Praetorian Prefect by Tacitus in his war against the Goths, and when Tacitus died in 276, the army in the West declared Florian the next emperor without the consent of the Senate.

Florian had the support of many of the western provinces, while rival claimant Probus had the support of the eastern provinces. The two rivals fought each other at the Battle of Cilicia, with Florian possessing the larger army but Probus being a more experienced general.

Florian's army, not used to the hot and dry climate of Cilicia, soon began to lose their confidence. They eventually turned on him and executed him in September 276, barely eighty-eight days into his reign.

Quick links to other images in this gallery: