Marcus Aurelius Sabinus Iulianus[1] (also known as Julian I or Julian of Pannonia; d. 285-286) was a Roman usurper (283-285 or 286) against Emperor Carinus or Maximian. It is possible that up to four usupers with a similar name rebelled in a time-frame of a decade, but at least one of them is known by numismatic evidence.
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Usurper against Carinus (283-285)
Iulianus was a corrector in northern Italy, in 283/284,[2] (and not a praetorian prefect as stated by some sources)[3]. Soon after the news of the death of Emperor Carus[2] (in 283) or Numerian[3] (in November 284) arrived in the western provinces, Iulianus revolted in Pannonia. He issued coins from Siscia, some of them bearing a legend celebrating Pannonia. Emperor Carinus, brother of Numerian, who had marched from Roman Britain to deal with the usurpation, met, defeated, and killed Iulianus early in 285, in Italy[4] (possibly in Verona),[5] or in Illyricum.[2] According to some scholars, it is possible that two usurpers actually existed: a M. Aur. Iulianus, corrector in Italy, rebelled after Carus' death, with the control of Pannonia, and defeated in Illyricum; a Sabinus Iulianus, praetorian prefect, usurper in Italy after Numerian's death, defeated near Verona.[6] Another usurper, simply named Iulianus, raised some turmoil in Africa Province, against Carinus, with the support of the Quinquegentani tribe.[7]
Usurper against Maximian and Diocletian
A third Iulianus is mentioned revolting between the time Maximian had been raised to the rank of Augustus (1 March 286) and the time Constantius Chlorus and Galerius became Caesar (March 1, 293). The revolt of this Iulianus took place in Italy, but ended when, during a siege, a breach was opened in the walls of his city, and he threw himself in the fire.[8]
Notes
- ^ His name is known from his coins, where his name is given as "M. Aur. Iulianus", and from literary sources: Aurelius Victor (Epitome, 38.6) and Zosimus (1.73; 1.3) give "Sabinus Iulianus"; "Iulianus" is supported by Aurelius Victor, Liber, 39.10.
- ^ a b c Aurelius Victor, Liber, 39.10.
- ^ a b Zosimus, i.73.1.
- ^ Zosimus, i.73.3.
- ^ Aurelius Victor, Epitome, 38.6.
- ^ Morris.
- ^ Aurelius Victor, Liber, 39.22.
- ^ Aurelius Victor, Epitome, 39.3-4.
References
Primary sources
- Aurelius Victor, Epitome de Caesaribus, 38.6, 39.3-4
- Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus, 39.10, 39.22
- Zosimus, Historia Nova,
Secondary sources
- Banchich, Thomas, and Michael DiMaio, "Iulianus (ca. 286-293 A.D.)", De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Leadbetter, William, "Carinus (283-285 A.D.)", De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Morris, John; Arnold Hugh Martin Jones, and John Robert Martindale (1992). The prosopography of the later Roman Empire. Cambridge University Press, p. 474. ISBN 0-521-07233-6.
