Floriano
Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus (Latin: Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus), also known as Florianus, was emperor Roman between July and September 276. He was the maternal half-brother of his predecessor, Tacitus, who was proclaimed emperor at the end of 275, after the unexpected death of Emperor Aurelian. After the death of Tacitus in July 276, presumably assassinated as a result of a military plot, Florian proclaimed himself emperor, with the recognition of the Roman Senate and much of the empire. However, he soon had to deal with the revolt of Probus, who rose up shortly after Florian's accession to the throne, with the support of the provinces of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia. Probus took advantage of the terrain of the Cilician Gates and the hot climate of the area, to which Florian's army was unaccustomed, to undermine their morale, and as a result, Florian's army rose against him in September 276 and was defeated. murdered.
Biography
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The classical sources contain very little information about Florian's life and reign. In the Historia Augusta it is mentioned several times that he was the brother of Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus Augustus. However, a passage says that he was his half-brother, a version preferred by current historians, since they have different generic names. Some historians, such as Ronald Syme, based on Greek sources, question the existence of any kind of relationship between Tacitus and Florian. The Historia Augusta suggests that Florian had many children.
In late 275, Florian's maternal half-brother Tacitus was proclaimed Emperor of Rome after Aurelian's unexpected death. Soon after, Tacitus made Florian his praetorian prefect. He then ordered him to lead troops into Pannonia, in order to repel incursions by the Goths. After Tacitus's sudden death in July 276, supposedly as a result of In a military plot, Florian quickly proclaimed himself emperor and was recognized as such by the Roman Senate and the western provinces. He then continued to campaign against the Goths, and as a result, won a major victory before news of Probus's revolt, a successful commander who served under both Aurelian and Tacitus, supported by the provinces of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia.
Despite his military experience, Probus was in a precarious position, having the support of only a small part of the Empire, while the other large part backed Florianus. Probus also took advantage of his control of the Egyptian grain, which he used to quickly cut off the supply of this cereal to the rest of the empire. He also led his troops into Asia Minor to defend the Cilician Gates, which allowed him to use guerrilla warfare to wage a war of attrition rather than direct confrontation. Florianus led his troops into Cilicia and housed his forces in Tarsus. However, many of his soldiers, who were not used to the hot climate of the area, fell ill due to a heat wave in summer. Upon learning of this, Probus launched raids around the city, in order to weaken the morale of Florian's forces. This strategy was successful and Floriano lost control of his army and in September rose up against him and killed him.
As for the length of Florian's reign, the sources contain certain discrepancies. The 354 Chronograph suggests eighty-eight days, Eutropius about two months and twenty days, and Aurelio Victor wrote about one or two months. The authors of the Prosopographia Imperii Romani provide specific dates: June 7 to September 9, 276.
Numismatics
Despite the short duration of Floriano's reign, his coins are surprising in their variety. Some contain images and inscriptions glorifying the military courage he had (Latin: VIRTVS FLORIANI AVGusti ). Others name him the "Peacemaker of the World" (Latin: PACATOR ORBIS) and the "Liberator of the Century" (Latin: RESTITVTOR SAECVLI ). Some coins state that victories always accompanied the sovereign (Latin: VICTORIA PERPETVA). In summary, we can say that the coins reflected the hope of a next golden age that came thanks to the emperor. An inscription mentions Florian's consulate, dated 276, so the reports of the Historia Augusta that Tacitus was not allowed to make him consul do not seem reliable.