Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 31
Philippus Arabs and his Son.
PHILIP the Father writing to the Senate of Gordian's death as if it had happened naturally,S. P. Q. R. primo imperium Marco cuidam, cum is subito moreretur Severo Hostiliano detulit, sed cum & hic vena male secta decederet, toleravit Philippum. Laet in compend. Hist. was by them proclaimed Emperour, through fear of the Soldiers.
He was born of mean Parents, his Father having been a notable Captain of thieves in Arabia. Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
Patre latronum Duce natus, latrocinio quasi Imperium rapuit. Pareus (vel potius Altingius) in Medulla Historiae Profanae.
Per militiam ad honores venit, & per scelus ad Imperium. Glareanus in Eutropium.
The Gothes infesting Mysia and Asia, Jo…apianus Philippi temporibus imperium in Oriente occupavit: sed statim oppressus, cum imperio vitam simul amisit. Auctor Zosimus. Casaubonus de iis qui post Gordianum tertium Principes fuerunt ad Valerianum usque.Philip sent Marinus against them, who as soon as he came into those parts drew his Army into a rebellion, and proclaimed himself Emperor; taking (he said) his example from Philip, who raised his title by his Sovereigns fall.
Philip complaining very much to the Senate of Marinus his ingratitude, Decius bid him not fear, for Marinus should suffer for it, as he did; for the mutable Soldiers, who even now erected him, suddenly threw him down, and slew him.
Decius being sent in Marinus his room, was also proclaimed Emperor by the Soldiers, though against his will, out of their hatred to Philip.Eodem tempore quo Jotapianus in Syria, Marinus in Pannonia vel Moesia a legionibus praesidiariis salutatus est imperator, nec multo post trucidatus, ut narrant Zosimus & Zonaras. Id. ib. Victor Schotti maketh Iotapia…us to usurp the Empire in Decius his time.
Decius sent secretly to Philip, professing he meant to escape the Soldiers, and persist in his allegiance: Philip fearing that was but policy (lest Decius should be stronger by delays) hasted himself with a great Army, and being overcome was *Ferro adeptus imperium, ferro vitam pariter cum Imperio finivit. Aventinus.slain by the Soldiers at Verona, his head being cut off through the teeth.
At the news whereof the Pretorian Soldiers slew his son, but 12 years old; who was so composed,Ambo, quamvis dive…sis locis tumultu militari & Decii fraude interfecti sunt. O…sius, l. 7. c. 20. that from the 5th year of his age, none by any invention could make him laugh: and when his Father was tickled with laughter at the secular plays, he looked on him with an estranged countenance.
Baronius in A. C. 253. de utriusque morte hanc inscriptionem profert, & agn…scit pro ve…ri: ANNO CHRIST. CCLIII. IMP. DIVVS PHILIPPVS SENIOR VERONAE ETROMAE IVNIOR A SATELLITIBVS OCCISVS EST. Sed Scal. ad Euseb. supposit…tiam esse satis demonstrat, & descriptam ex Chronico Hieronymiano Rupertus in min. synop. Besoldi, p. 358.
Veronensi… Inscriptio, quam in Annalibus laudat Baronius, & Adolphus Occo, testatur Anno Christi CCLIII. caesos esse Philippos. Sed adulterina & nugatoria est epigraphe, quam merito neglexit Onufrius. Neque enim annorum putatio ita vetus est; quam demum post Dionysium passim usurpatam esse constat. Itaque nihil erat, quod ad rationes suas cum foreign illo monumento conciliandas, Annalium, Chronicorumque Scriptores biennium Philippis arrogarent. Atque ut Deciis ambobus Coss. necatos esse Philippos arbitremur, nequaquam is annus erit aerae Christianae CCLIII, ut Annalibus esse videtur; sed CCII. verum ante Decios amb…s Consules, Philippos extinctos esse, probabilius est. Petavius De Doctrina Temp…rum, l. 11. c. 26.
The time of their reign was 7 years, say some, others say 6, some but *Theodorus Metochita in hist. Rom.5
Annos potentiae quinque egere. Victor Schotti.
The elder Philip's age is not related by any Historian.
Eusebius reports of him, that he was the first Christian Emperor; and that being desirous to join with the multitude in the Ecclesiastical prayers, he could not be admitted till he had first rendred an account of his Faith, and joined himself with such as for their sins were examined, and set in the place of Penitents; therefore because he was faulty in many things, saith the Historian, he willingly obeyed, and declared by his works his sincere and religious mind towards God. The Martyrologies will have him and his Son converted by occasion of the celebrating the 1000th year from the building of Rome, and being baptized by Pope Fabianus, after confession of his sins, to have been admitted to the Communion. But saith Cappellus, if any of this had been true, would the Senate that was so set against the Christians have reckoned him among the Gods? At least would not Deciu… have objected this as a crime against him? William Howel his History from the beginning of the world to Constantine, p. 872.
Marciam Otaciliam Severam Augustam, Philippi senioris ux…rem, religionis Christianae sacris imbutam fuisse plerique autumant. Quae res effecisse videtur, ut Philippum quoque uxoris gratia aequiorem piis, palam Christianum fuisse Eusebius aliique multi scripserint. Assentior vero doctissimis viris, qui putant cum Zonara, duos Philippos, hunc nempe Augustum, & alterum praefectum Augustalem, Eugeniae martyris patrem, ab antiquis rerum Ecclesiasticarum scriptoribus Graecis fuisse confuses. Casaubon.
Roma necat natum, perimit verona Parentem.
Dum furor in Decios arma movere jubet.
Boissardus.