On This Day In Roman History: February 3

On This Day In Roman History, February 3

A peaceful interregnum that lasts nearly 8 months perpetuates through the Roman Empire, beginning (according to Edward Gibbon) on February 3, 275 CE. Gibbon describes this period by calling it "...one of the best attested but most improbable events in the history of mankind." These events would be kicked off by the interesting death of Lucius Domitius Aurelianus Augustus, more commonly known as Aurelian. An imperial secretary by the name of Eros (name given by the Eastern Roman historian Zosimus) had reportedly lied about a minor issue to Aurelian. Aurelian was known to be a strict ruler in terms of punishing corrupt officials and soldiers alike, and Eros feared the worst. Rather than face the issue with Aurelian, Eros framed him by forging a document that listed several high-ranking Roman officials marked for death. High-ranking officials within the Praetorian Guard, whom were found on the forged list, took action and murdered the Emperor in 275.

Did you know?

There is a fair amount of evidence to show Aurelian's wife Ulpia Severina, controlled large amounts of political power during the interregnum. Unfortunately, the only information found today on her is found in the form of coins and inscriptions. The biggest indicator that she was ruling, or at least maintaining the peace during the interregnum, is that coins showing Ulpia's depiction appear to have been minted sometime after Aurelian's death. Ulpia had been declared Augusta in 274, furthering the evidence for it to be possible for her rule. This would make her the only Augusta to rule over the entire classical Roman Empire.

Pictured: Antoninianus of Severina. By Rasiel Suarez, Wikimedia Commons.

Ulpia Severina also is found to have the titles Pia, meaning pious, and castrorum et senatus et patriae, meaning mother of the barracks (armies), senate, and country. Outside of these inscripted sources of evidence, and that of the numismatic evidence, there is no further written evidence of any source to back-up claims of political power or reign.

Opinion

While the physical evidence for Ulpia's control exists only in the form of coins and inscriptions, I think it's wise to remember Gibbon's words describing this as one of the most improbably events of mankind. Why would he describe this interregnum as such? Name a single time in Roman history where usurpers aren't vying for power. 8 months of peace with no ruler? This seems simply impossible in the Roman world, and I believe without a single claim to power it would have been comparable to another "year of the four Emperors". It seems likely that in a patriarchal culture, like that of the Roman's, that not much would be recorded of Ulpia's political success. For these reasons, it is my opinion that while Ulpia was not a true "Empress", she did retain nearly all of Aurelians power during the interregnum and maintained the peace until the ascension of Tacitus.

Sources

Gibbon, E. (1955). The decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.

Southern, P. (2001). The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. London: Routledge.

Watson, A. (1999). Aurelian and the Third Century. London: Routledge.

Z. (1967). Zosimus: Historia nova; the decline of Rome. San Antonio: Trinity University Press.

On This Day In Roman History

Friday, February 3, 2017

February 3