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Herennius Etruscus (227-251) was the son of Emperor Decius Trajan and older brother of future Emperor Hostilian. Herennius was born in Pannonia during one of his father's military postings. He joined the army to fight alongside his father, and followed his father in his rebellion against Emperor Philip. Herennius became heir to the throne in 249.<br/><br/> When the Gothic tribes began raiding across the Danube frontier, Herennius' father raised him to the rank of co-emperor, and together they embarked on a campaign against the Goths, while Hostilian remained in Rome. It was during the fateful Battle of Abrittus that Herennius died in battle, struck by an enemy arrow.
Trajan Decius (201-251 CE) was a distinguished senator and governor in the Roman Empire. When revolts and uprisings began occurring throughout the Empire in the last years of Philip the Arab's reign, Decius was sent to quell a revolt in the Balkan provinces of Moesia and Pannonia. After defeating the revolt, Decius was proclaimed Emperor by his troops, and he fought against and killed Philip in 249 CE, entering Rome and being recognised as Emperor by the Roman Senate.<br/><br/> As Emperor, Decius focused on defeating external threats to the Empire, as well as restoring public piety and strengthening the State religion, which involved the persecution of Christians as well as an Imperial edict declaring all citizens make a sacrifice for the Emperor and Empire every year on a certain day.<br/><br/> A renewed incursion by the Goths forced Decius to march and confront them in battle, alongside his son and co-emperor, Herennius Etruscus. During the decisive Battle of Abritus, Etruscus was killed early on by an arrow, and Decius was himself later killed on the field of battle, when his entire army was entangled and annihilated in a swamp. Decius and his son were the first two Roman Emperors to be officially recorded dying in battle against a foreign enemy, with Gordian III's manner of death still debated.
Trajan Decius (201-251) was a distinguished senator and governor in the Roman Empire. When revolts and uprisings began occurring throughout the Empire in the last years of Philip the Arab's reign, Decius was sent to quell a revolt in the Balkan provinces of Moesia and Pannonia. After defeating the revolt, Decius was proclaimed Emperor by his troops, and he fought against and killed Philip in 249, entering Rome and being recognised as Emperor by the Roman Senate.<br/><br/> As Emperor, Decius focused on defeating external threats to the Empire, as well as restoring public piety and strengthening the State religion, which involved the persecution of Christians as well as an Imperial edict declaring all citizens make a sacrifice for the Emperor and Empire every year on a certain day.<br/><br/> A renewed incursion by the Goths forced Decius to march and confront them in battle, alongside his son and co-emperor, Herennius Etruscus. During the decisive Battle of Abritus, Etruscus was killed early on by an arrow, and Decius was himself later killed on the field of battle, when his entire army was entangled and annihilated in a swamp. Decius and his son were the first two Roman Emperors to be officially recorded dying in battle against a foreign enemy, with Gordian III's manner of death still debated.