Select Observations of Roman Emperors 2, Part 1 · Emperor 35 – Emperor 36
Choyce Observations. GALLIENUS.
WHen Valerian his Father was taken prisoner, he was made Emperour.
He was expert in Oratory, Poetry, and all other arts, but was defective in other qualifications which are requisite in an Emperour.
At first he acted like a valiant Captain,Initio imperium faeliciter, mox commodè, ad ultimum perniciosè gessit, Eutropius. overcame and slew Ingenu…s (who usurped the Empire) as also Trebellianus; & overcame 300000 Gothes, & Almans, having but 10000 on his side (saith Zonaras) but after he gave himself so much to sensuality, that when the World was infected with Warres, he continued for the most part in Rome among whores, compassed with Roses and Flowers; seeking new delights, often bathing himself, studying how he might keep Figs and other fruits green all the year; having ordinarily at his table most exquisite and delicate meats, and of great cost. Trebellius Pollio in Gallieno c. 16.
He commanded one, who had sold counterfeit jewels to his Wife, to be cast to a Lion; but the den being opened, nothing came forth but a Capon: at which when the people wondered, he bade the Cryer proclaim, Imposturam fecit & passus est; being content to have the impostor more frighted than hurt. Id. ib. c. 12. Videsis Christiani Matthiae Theatrum Historicum Theoretico-practicum. p. 263.
When a shooting prize was played before him, he gave the garland to one who shot alwayes wide, concluding that it was the more improbable difficulty to aim so often, and never to hit. Taurum toties non sagittis vel jaculis ferire difficile est. Id. ib.
Whē it was told him that Egypt rebelled, he answered, Cannot we live without the linen of Egypt? Being advertised of the losse of other Provinces, he answered so scornfully, that he seemed to care for nothing: which occasioned 30 Tyrants to make themselves Emperours in his time; whereof two were Women, Zenobia and Victoria.
In his reign the Heavens were darkned so that the Sun was not seen for many dayes; in the bowels of the earth were heard roarings, with the fear whereof many dyed; Earth-quakes threw down many houses, whereby the Inhabitants were destroyed; these Earth-quakes were frequent in Rome, Africk, but especially in Asia; the Earth opened in many places, and shewed Vaults and Caves, from whence salt-water streamed; a…d several Cities were drowned by the Sea: and in Rome there dyed above 5000 in one day of the pestilence. Treb. Pollio c. 5.
Gallienus addicted onelyonly to his pleasures, was not affected with these calamities, thinking they proceeded rather from chance than any signal punishment.
He grieved not for his Fathers captivity, but, when he was informed of it, said, alluding to the speech of Xenophon the Philosopher, who having lost his son, said, Sciebam me genuisse mortalem; Sciebam patrem meum esse mortalem: I knew that my Father was lyable to the same miseries as other men. Nec defuit Annius Cornicula, qui eum quasi constantem Principem salsò sua voce laudaret, pejor tamen ille qui credidit, saith Pollio, c. 17. videsis Cuspinianum in Gallieno.
Odenatus though an Independent Prince, was of such moderation, that he held correspondence with Gallienus, & sent him such of the Persian Nobility as he had taken prisoners, for monuments of his victory over Sapor, and revenge of the indignities offered to Valerian: thus Odenatus conquered, and Gallienus triumphed, who when he could not eclipse Odenatus his merit by any Princely vertue, nor suppresse it by valour, sought to deface it by treachery; but failing of his aimes therein, he made him partner of the Empire for fear; Odenatus receiving the titles of Imperator, and Augustus, from Gallienus and the Senate.
Being not ashamed ridiculously to triumph over the Persians, who detained his Father prisoner, & to lead thē captive in his mock-shew; some jeering companions mixing themselves with the Persians, exactly viewed their countenances, and being asked wherefore they did it, answered, We seek for his Majesties Father; which when Gallienus heard of, he was so incensed at the taunt, that he commanded those who uttered it to be burned alive.
The Scythians invading Cappadocia, the souldiers attempt to make a new Emperour, for which Gallienus put them all to the sword, Pollio c. 11.
In his time the City Byzantium (renowned for sea-fights, and the place which barreth in the Euxine Sea) was destroyed by his souldiers; to revenge which, he being received into Byzantium, compassed them unarmed with armed souldiers, and slew them contrary to his covenant. And as if he had done some great matter, he posteth to Rome, and summoning the Senatours, appointeth decennial playes to be celebrated novo genere ludorum, nova specie pomparum, exquisito genere voluptatum, saith Pollio c. 7.
He killed sometimes 3 or 4000 souldiers in a day. Id. Ib. c. 18.
At last he himself with his brother Valerian and his son Gallienus were slain near Milain (where he besieged Aureolus) by the treachery of Marcianus Ceronius, aliter Aur. Victor.or Cecropius and Heraclian. Pollio. c. 14.
He lived 50 years, reigned 15, 7 with his Father, 8 alone.
Choyce Observations OF CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS, And his Brother QUINTILLUS.
CLAVDIVS was appointed Emperour by the will of Gallienus being ready to dy, unto who… by Gallonius Basilius, he sent the Imperial Robes to Ticinum.
He was elected by the souldiers before the Walles of Milain, and confirmed in Rome by the Senate with much joy.
He was so renowned a Prince, that he was said to have Augustus his moderation, Trajans vertue, and Antoninus his piety met in him.
A Woman desiring him after he was Emperour, to restore an inheritance, which he had unjustly took from her when he was but a private person; he graciously granted her request, saying, Quod Claudius dum privatus erat, nec leges curabat, abstulit; factus Imperator restituit. Zonaras.
In his time Athens was ransacked by Gothes, who piled heaps of Books to burn, but were advised by one to for bear, that the Graecians spending their time in them, might be lesse fit for war. Cedrenus. B. Egnatius. Judicium barbari non prorsus vanum. Etsi Cleodemus Atheniensis, fuga elapsus, coactaque manu & navibus hostes invadens, Graecis librorum tractatione virtutem non demi ipsorum clade docuit. Heidmannus in Epitome Historica de Imp. Rom. in Claudio. ex Zonora.
Aureolus being slain by his own company, Claudius received the government of those Countries, and fighting against the Almains, he overthrew above half of them. S. Aur. Victor.
He waged war with the Gothes, who infested the Empire 15 years with continual irruptions (saith Iornandes) and now in league with many barbarous Nations, invaded Thrace and the Countries before them, even to Macedonia; and thence came through Hungary down Danubius with 2000 saile of ships fraught with munition and men: to meet which Claudius prepared, and engaged them so valiantly, that he slew and took 320000 men, and 2000 ships laden with shields, swords, lances, &c. so that houses were filled therewith.
He intended to go against Tetricus and Zenobia, but was hindred by a fever which soon put an end to his life. He reigned 1 year, 10 months and 15 dayes. He was deifyed by the Senate; had a statue of gold 10 foot high erected in the Capitol in honour of him by the people at their own cost, (which they never did to any before:) and a target of the same metal, with his picture in it, was hung up in the Court by the Senates appointment. There was also by general consent set up for him a pillar composed of the prowes of ships; upon which was placed his statue, representing him clothed with his Consular robe, of 1500 pound weight of silver.
It was a providence, that Claudius found the Empire so beset with enemies, that he could not exercise so much cruelty as he intended against the Christians.
Julian feigneth that Constantine the great and his children were delivered from torments in Hell, in favour to Claudius their ancestor; the reason of which fiction of that Apostate was certainly, because Claudius was a great persecutor. Tristan.
His brother Quin tillus endeavoured to succeed, and was chosen Emperour, but being not able to resist Aurelian, chosen at the same time by the army, he made away himself by opening a vein, at Tarsus in Cilicia, say some, having reigned but 17 dayes; but others write that he was killed by the souldiers.