Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 39 – Life 40
L. Domitius Aurelianus.
HIS Parents being mean, he followed the Wars, and advanced himself thereby.
There being in the Army another Tribune, who was named Aurelian, and had been taken prisoner with Valerian the Emperor; to distinguish the one from the other, this was called Aurelian with his hand upon his Sword:Aurelianus manu ad ferrum. he being upon all occasions with a weapon in his hand, ready for service. Vopiscus in Aureliano, c. 6.
He made no use of Physitians when he was sick, but cured all excess by abstinence. Id. Ib. c. 50.
He delighted exceedingly in a Glutton who at his Table in one day ate a whole Boar, and 100 loaves, with a Weather and a Pig; drinking through a tun-dish plus orca: which Lipsius saith was bigger than the Amphora, The Amphora Capitolina held 6 gallons, saith Dr. Hackwel in his Apol.but how much he knoweth not. Id. Ibid. c. 50.
He was wont to say of Bonosus, Non ut vivat natus est, sed ut bibat; He was not born to draw in breath, but beer. Vopiscus in quadriga tyrannorum, c. 14.
Aurelian married this Bonosus a Spaniard (but son of an English man) to Hunila a noble Gothish Woman, meerly that by her means he might discover the Gothes secrets. Vopiscus in quadriga tyrannorum, c. 15.
Sagacissimus Quaesitor est Foemina.
Blandè torquendo verum extorquet.
Tergiversari difficile est,
Cum Apparitor Cupido faces admovet.
Eman. Thesaurus in Samsone.
Aurelian appointed Bonosus to carouse with Embassadors, that they might be brought to bewray secrets by this lene tormentum; whilest he (who had this wonderful property, that he could piss as fast as he drunk, without containing any jot within his body) faultred not, but was more discreet. Id. Ib.
[Schenkius arma nunquam accuratius tractabat, quàm quum effusè potus, ac vino amens: immo ebrietate ipsa, quae resignare ac aperire occulta quaeque consueverit, illum ad arcana occultanda uti solitum ferunt. Strada Belli Belgici Decade secunda, l. 10.]
Aurelian was Colonel of Horse under Claudius in Persia; he slew in one day 48 of his Enemies with his own hands in the War against the Sarmatians: and slew in several daies above 950; whereupon Ballads were sung by Boyes on Festivals in praise of him.
Mille, mille, mille decollavimus,
Vnus homo mille decollavimus,
Mille vivat, qui mille occidit.
Tantum vini habet nemo,
Quantum fudit sanguinis.
Vopiscus in Aureliano, c. 6. as Salmasius hath corrected the printed Copy from the Manuscripts.
When the Enemies of the Romans had overrun all France, he made such havock of them at Mentz, that he slew 700, and sold 300 sub corona; upon which occasion new Jigges were made.
Mille Sarmatas, mille Francos
Semel & semel occidimus;
Mille Persas quaerimus.
Id. ib. according to the Manuscript Copies.
He overcame all his Enemies in 3 years, whereas Alexander the Great travelled 13 years by great victories, before he came into India; Caesar spent 10 years in overcoming the Gauls, and 4 years in conquering the Romans. Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
He was the first Roman Emperor that wore a Diadem on his head, and also used garments of gold and precious stones, which before that time the Romans were little acquainted with. Id. ibid.
He caused a Soldier, who had committed adultery with his Hostess, to have his feet tyed to the tops of 2 Trees bent downward, and suffered suddenly to start back again; so the wretch was twitched in sunder, and hung on both sides in halves.
He wrote to one of his Lieutenants;Vopiscus in Aureliano, c. 7. If thou wilt be a Captain, nay if thou wilt live, contain thy Soldiers in their duty. I will not have a peasant wronged in a Chicken, nor a Grape taken without his permission; not a grain of Salt or a drop of Oil unjustly exacted. I desire my Soldiers should be enriched with spoils of Enemies, not the tears of my Subjects. I would have them chast in their Quarters, and no Quarrelers. Which commands Baronius compareth with that of Iohn the Baptist to the Soldiers, Luk. 3.14.
Hujusmodi erat militaris disciplina sub Imperatore Ethnico; quam si nostri Christiani Reges servarent, profecto hostibus formidabiliores, & civibus amabiliores haberentur, nibil que tam nobili eorum virtuti usquam praevaleret. Olaus Magnus, l. 17. de rebus septentr. p. 675.
He advanced Tetricus (one of the 30 Tyrants in Gallienus his time, whom he overcame) and made him Provost of Lucania who had been before proclaimed Emperor by the French Army; elegantly upbraiding him, That it was more majestical to rule some part of Italy, than to reign beyond the Alpes. Sextus Aurelius Victor's Epitome.
Being incensed against Tyana, because the Gates of the City were shut against him,See in Sir Thomas Herberts Travels the pillar of beast heads erected at Spahawn on such an occasion. he vowed, He would not leave a Dog in it; But having taken it, upon a fright by the ghost of Apollonius Tyanaeus (dead long before) he commanded his Soldiers to kill all the Dogs, but spare the Citizens. Vopiscus in Aureliano, c. 23.
This story if it was not true, it was handsomely contrived, both for the keeping up the honour of the deifyed Apollonius, by making him so seasonably deliver his native Town in so great an exigency; and also for the saving of the Emperors credit with the Soldiers, that he might seem by Divine powers to be absolved from that rigid vow, of giving the whole Town up to the slaughter and plunder of the Soldiery. Dr. Mores Explanation of the grand Mystery of Godliness, p. 151.
Aurelian demanding how he might govern well,Amicos suos honestè ditavit & modice; ut miserias paupertatis effugerent, & divitiarum invidiam patrimonii moderatione vitarent. Vopiscus in Aureliano. was answered by a great personage: You must be provided with Iron and Gold; Iron to use against your Enemies, and Gold to reward your Friends. Zonaras.
Aurelian takes this counsel: to bestow
Gold on his men, and Iron on his fo.
Aleyn's Battel of Poictiers, p. 120.
Aurelian's chief engagement was against Zenobia, the most beautiful, chast, learned, wise, and valiant Woman of that age.
Her Letter in answer to him (who sorely tired, proffered her life, and liberty, and wealth, if she would yield) sheweth her resolves for fight.
He was so enraged at her haughty reply, that he forthwith besieged Palmyra, destroyed her aids, and at last took Her prisoner, whom he led in triumph; ea specie, ut nibil pompabilius populo Rom. videretur, saith Treb. Pollio in Zenobia.
He put Longinus to death upon a supposition that he dictated Zenobia's Epistle.
He is called Necessarius magis quàm bonus Imperator, a Prince rather necessary than good; because he wanted clemency, saith Vopiscus.
He was so bloudy, that he put to death his own Sisters son.
Being about to sign an Edict for the 9th persecution (of which he was the Author) God hindred his purpose, cramping as it were his knuckles, manifesting to all, that the Princes of this world have no power to practise any thing against the Church, any farther than God permitteth. Eusebius, l. 7.
At the same time also a Thunder-bolt fell so near him,Nona correptio fuit, cum Aureliano persecutionem decernenti, diris turbinibus terribile ac triste fulmen sub ipsius pedibus ruit, ostendens quid, cum ultio talis exigeret, tantus posset ultor, nisi & clemens esset & patiens: quanquam intra sex abhinc menses succidui tres Imperatores, hoc est, Aurelianus, Tacitus & Florianus diversis causis interfecti sunt. Orosius, l. 7. c. 27. that all thought he was slain; by which messenger God warned him to be wise, lest he perished in those destructive waies, as shortly after he did; Mnestheus his Secretary fearing punishment for some offence, for which the Emperor threatned him with death, and knowing that he used not to pardon if he threatned, counterfeited the Emperors hand, and wrote the names of many in a rowl as appointed by him to die; mixing the names of some, with whom the Emperor was truly offended, with those of others whom he was not displeased with, adding his own name that he might the easilier be believed. They upon sight hereof, thinking to prevent the worst, slew him in a Castle called Coeno-phrurium, betwixt Byzantium and Heraclea.
Id vero in ultionem Sanguinis Christiani, ab eo effusi contigisse, Constantinus Magnus in quadam Orat. ait. Baron. Anno Christi 278. num. 1. Besoldus in majore Synopsi Historiae Vniversalis, p. 179.
When Mnestheus his Treason was discovered, he was cast to wild beasts as appeareth by marble pillars placed on both sides the monument erected in honour of Aurelian, even by those who slew him. Vopiscus in Aureliano, c. 37.
When the Treasury was emptied after Gallienus and the calamities of the Common-wealth, Aurelian came in manner of a torrent upon the rich. Ammianus Marcellinus, l. 30. c. 28.
He reigned 4 years 11 months and 7 daies. Vopiscus calleth him Bonum Medicum, sed mala ratione curantem; A good Physitian, had not he administred too bitter potions: in reference to which Iulian feigneth, that he had much ado to defend himself at the Tribunal of Minos, before whom many accused him of injustice; but that the Sun, who had alwaies in his life specially assisted him in all his enterprises, excused him to the other Gods, saying, That he had been punished enough by his death, according to the Delphick Oracle, which saith:
foreign.
Iudicium, si quis quae fecit perferat, aequum est.
Porphyrie that surly Antichristian Predicabilist grumbled against Christians in his time. Bishop Prideaux's Introduction to History.
Triginta circiter scriptores Catholici blasphemias ejus refutarunt: si qua fides Fl. Lucii Dextri Chronicis. Lucas Holstenius De vita & Scriptis Porphyrii, p. 14 and 62.
Reginam frustra optaras, Auguste, triumpho:
Elusit propria te generosa nece.
Sors nobis melior. Pars spectatissima pompae
Ducta ante est currus foemina victa meos.
Anonymus.
Tacitus, and his Brother Florianus.
UPon the death of Aurelian, the Soldiers who would not have any of his Assassinates to succeed, sent to the Senate to chuse an Emperor; the Senate refer the election to the Soldiers, who, they knew, used not to be pleased with the Senates choice: half a year passed in complements with a peaceable interregnum, at last the Senate and Soldiers jointly elect Tacitus.
He retired to his Mannor in Campania, where he was secret 2 months, shunning that dignity which might prove his overthrow; was often sollicited, but with hearty thanks absolutely denyed; affirming his age made him unable to satisfy expectations: at length, necessity of state so requiring, he accepted of their proffer; at which all rejoyced but himself.
He was so abstemious, that he never drank a pinte of wine in a day, and often less than half a one. Vopiscus in Tacito, c. 11.
He was such an example of moderation to others, that he permitted not his Empress to wear jewels.
He honoured Tacitus the Historian,He called September Tacitus, because he was born and made Emperor in that month. Vopiscus in Tacito, c. 13. whom he called his Father, commanded his Works to be put in every Library through the Empire, to be transcribed 10 times every year at publick cost. Vopiscus in Tacito, c. 10.
When the Senate chose him Emperor, they cryed out, Quis melius quàm gravis imperat? & quis melius quàm *He hath a place in Barlandus's Literati urbis Romae Principes.literatus imperat?
When he objected his age, they answered, that Trajan, Adrian, and Antoninus were old when they came to the Empire; whom they mentioned because they reigned well and fortunately: omitting Vespasian, Nerva, Pertinax, Macrinus and Decius, who came older to the Empire; but their reign was short, especially that of the four last: the three last also dyed a violent death. Tristan.
When the Senate denyed him the Consulship, which he sought for his brother Florianus, he took it very well, saying; Seit Senatus quem Principem fecerit. Vopiscus.
He gave the Soldiers all the money he had in silver, which was a great sum; he having had more than 9 millions in gold for his patrimony.
His death proceeded from grief occasioned by factions, infirmity of age helping to break his heart, when he had reigned *Above a year saith Christ. Adamus Rupertus on Besoldus his minor Synopsis of History.6 months. Vopiscus in Tacito, c. 13. and Eutropius, l. 9.
His brother Florianus ambitiously strove to get the Empire as true heir, though he knew Tacitus was engaged to the Senate, that he would prefer worth before his relations in the designation of his Successor.
Florianus Taciti frater arripuit Purpuram, qua secundo mense exutus à Probo, dominationis umbram cum morte mutavit. Bussicres in Flosculis Historiarum.Being not able to withstand Probus who was chosen by the Army, he was killed by the Soldiers, say some; but most write, that having as it were in sport swayed the Empire but 60 daies, by opening a vein he killed himself at Tarsus: as Quintillus also did, who was reduced to the same extremity.
Theod. Metochita, Glycas and Caedrenus write, that Probus killed him counterfeting the fool.
Accipit imperium Tacitus praebente senatu,
At cito castrensi seditione cadit.
Velius.