Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 41
Probus.
UPon Tacitus his death, the Army unanimously cryed out, Let us have Probus for our Emperor: and the Senate with applause confirmed the election.
The manner of his being chosen by the Soldiers was thus; The Officers told them the requisites of one that should be elected, that he should be Fortis, Sanctus, Verecundus, Clemens, Probus: which when it was spoke to many Companies, on all sides they cryed out as it were by a divine instinct, Probe Auguste, Dii te servent. Vopiscus in Probo.
Valerian the Emperor called him Verè Probum, saying in an Epistle, that if he had not had Probus for his name, he deserved to have had it for his *Vir, si quis unquam in illo imperio, magnus simul & bonus. Rivii Hist. Navalis media. l. 2. p. 91.surname. Id. ib. c. 4.
He was made Tribune by Valerian, in which office he served under Gallienus, Claudius, Aurelian, and Tacitus.
He was so noble a warrior, and mighty in feats of Arms, that the Senate wished for him, the Soldiers chose him, and the people of Rome with open acclamation called for him.
His first service after he became Emperor, was in France, Vopiscus in Probo, c. 13, 14, 15. Iulianus in Gaesaribus.against the Germans who had conquered it; where in one battel he slew almost 400000 Germans, 9 of whose*Quibus obsides, frumentum, ac postremo etiam pecudes imperavit, in praesens usui, in futurum terrori. Dousae filii Batavia, p. 30. Kings prostrated themselves at his feet: he won also and repaired 70 of their Cities in less than 7 years.
Non omittenda hic bella quae ab eodem Imperatore ad Rhenum gesta referuntur a Zosimo: quae in his locis potissimum accidisse haud absimile vero est, quum captivos in Britanniam miss…s idem referat, praesertim tam opportuno trajectu. Initio belli gravissima fame a Romanis laboratum, qua tandem liberati eo miraculo, ut fides rerum commento fabulae adumbrata videatur. Quippe magna vis aquae coelo missa una cum imbre frumentum detulit, cujus acervi sponte structi multis locis. Obstupefactis ad rem novam atque incredibilem omnibus qui aderant, initio quidem, Religione quadam obstrictis mentibus frumentum attingere non audebant. Verum tandem, ubi necessitas metum vicit, panes ex eo cocti ita ad usum ipsis suffecerunt, ut pulsa fame alacriores ad belli munia animos adferrent: atque ad extremum virtute sua, atque Imperatoris Fortuna superiores discederent. Hujus prodigiosae pluviae meminit quoque Cedrenus, nulla tamen aut belli, aut loci (ubi id accidit) facta mentione. Dousae filii Batavia, p. 31.
The Egyptians electing Saturninus a wife and valiant Captain Emperor, so sore against his will, that he was like to be slain for gain-saying their desires; Probus hasting towards them offered them pardon, out of an unwillingness to shed civil blood, or to lose such a man as Saturninus: but upon refusal of his clemency, he engaged in a sharp battel, wherein most of the revolters were overthrown, and Saturninus slain in the assault of a besieged Castle, to the grief of Probus who sought to save his life. Vopiscus in quadriga tyrannorum, c. 11.
Bonosus had charge of Ships, which the Germans burned in the mouth of the Rhine through his negligence, if not treachery; who fearing punishment for his fault, rebelled likewise against Probus, but was overcome and through despair hung himself: whereupon it was said, Amphoram pendere, non hominem; That a barrel or tankard hung there, and not a man; because he was so given to drink. Vopiscus ibidem, c. 15.
For be that holds more wine than others can,
I rather count a Hogs-head than a man.
Randolph in his Poems, 35th Precept, or Necessary Observation.
There rebelled also against Probus, Proculus as insatiate a vassal to Venus, as Bonosus was to Bacchus; so impudent that he did not only commit filthiness, but boasted of it, as appeareth by his Letter wherein he braggeth that having taken 100 Sarmatian Virgins he deprived 10 of that name in a night, and all the rest within a fortnight: inter fortes se haberi credens, si criminum densitate coalescat. Id. ibid. c. 12.
Probus honoured Aradion a most valiant man (whom he overcame in wrestling) with a Tomb 200 foot broad remaining in Vopiscus his time; which he caused the Soldiers, whom he never suffered to be idle, to erect: testifying the greatness of his respect by the largeness of his monument. Vopiscus in Probo, c. 9.
Quo latior agri modus sepulchro assignab… tur, eo magis crescebat bonos. Casaubonus.
Being presented with a Horse taken in War, which it was said, could go 100 miles in a day, for 8 or 10 daies together, he said, He was fitter for a cowardly, than a valiant Soldier. Id. ib. c. 8.
Some say he was the last Emperor who triumphed, after his Victory over the Germans and the Blemyae a people of Africk.
He commanded to be let loose at once 1000 Estriches, 1000 Stags, 1000 wild Boars, 1000 fallow Deer, beside wild Goats, wild Sheep, and other creatures which fed upon grass, as many as could be fed or found; which he gave to the people to catch as they could: the Circus being set all over with great trees, which by the Soldiers were taken up by the roots, as they grew in the woods, and planted there with green turf about them, and fastned with beams and irons: next day he let into the same place 100 maned Lyons, (which filled the air with roaring as if it had thundred;) 100 Lybian Leopards, 100 Syrian, 100 Lionesses, and 300 Bears. Vopiscus in Probo, c. 19.
As Hanibal filled most parts of Africk with Olive-yards planted by his Soldiers that they might not be idle, to the endangering of the Common-wealth; so Probus, (who for his famous acts is compared with Hannibal and Cesar) for the same reason caused the Soldiers to plant vineyards throughout all France, both the Pannonias, and the Mysian hills. Aur. Victor.
He was a valiant and just person, matched Aurelian for military renown, and exceeded him in courteous behaviour. Eutropius, l. 9.
Flav. Vopiscus tres causas Probi mortis recitat. Primam, quod milites nunquam ociosos permisit. Secundam; quod dixerat brevi fore, ut nullis militibus opus sit. Tertiam, quod in patria sua amplianda ad sordida ac servilia ministeria milites coegisset. Glarenus in Eutropium.He undid himself by that speech of his Brevi milites necessarios non futuros: wherewith the Soldiers being offended murdered him, when he had lived 75 years, and reigned*Quamvis quinto imperii anno interfectum scribit Vopiscus; tamen alii omnes ipsi adversi sunt. Chr. Ad. Rupert. Observat in Besoldi synop. min. p. 388.6 years 4 months; others say 6 years.
Cum Probus imperii fraenos & jura teneret,
Tam pax tranquillo dulcis in orbe fuit,
Caesar ut ipse brevi post diceret esse futurum,
Non opus ut castris praesidio que foret.
Audiit hoc miles, motusque his vocibus, ipsum
Interimit stricto cominus ense Probum.
Lingua quod incauto peccans effutiit ore,
Hoc animae sraudi saepius esse solet.
Pantaleon Candidus in Epigrammat. Historicis, p. 157, 158.
Iulian (in his Cesars) feigneth that Silenus reproached him with severity towards his Soldiers; who addeth that he underwent deserved punishment, though unjustly inflicted by them.
It is thought, that because he suffered the Christians to live in peace, God gave him so many victories against the Barbarians. R. B. of the Roman Emperors.
Hic ille est, cujus gemmant tibi munere vites,
Gallia; cui libes cum tua vina bibis.
Verè dat pacem, bellis Probus orbe fugatis,
Qui tribuit curis solvere corda mero.
Anonymus.