Nepotianus
Nepotianus (died 30 June 350 AD), sometimes known in English as Nepotian,[1] was a member of the Constantinian dynasty who reigned as a short-lived usurper of the Roman Empire. He ruled the city of Rome for twenty-eight days, before being killed by his rival usurper Magnentius' general Marcellinus.[1]
| Nepotianus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nepotianus on a coin bearing his claimed title of Augustus | |||||
| Roman emperor | |||||
| Reign | 3–30 June 350 (in competition with Magnentius)[1] | ||||
| Died | 30 June 350 Rome | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Constantinian | ||||
| Father | Virius Nepotianus | ||||
| Mother | Eutropia | ||||
Background
Nepotianus was the son of Eutropia, half-sister of Emperor Constantine I,[4] and of Virius Nepotianus. On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora.[5]
Events
After the revolt of Magnentius, Nepotianus proclaimed himself emperor and entered Rome with a band of gladiators[4] on 3 June 350.[1] After attempting to resist Nepotianus with an undisciplined force of Roman citizens, the defeated praefectus urbi Titianus (or Anicius, or Anicetus), a supporter of Magnentius, fled the city.
Magnentius quickly dealt with this revolt[4] by sending his trusted magister officiorum Marcellinus to Rome. According to Eutropius, Nepotianus was killed in the resulting struggle (on 30 June), his head put on a lance and borne around the city.[4] In the following days, his mother Eutropia was also killed alongside the supporters of Nepotianus.[5]
Notes
- "DiMaio, Michael, "Nepotian (350 A.D.)", "DIR"". Roman-emperors.org. 6 August 1996. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- Sear, David (2014). Roman Coins. Spink & Son. pp. 255–256.
- Coins refer to him as either "Flavius Julius Nepotianus", "Flavius Popilius Nepotianus" or "Flavius Nepotianus Constantinus".[2]
- Eutropius x.11
- Pauly-Wissowa, Eutropia 2
References
- Aurelius Victor De Caesaribus 42.6, Epitome 42.3
- Zosimus, ii.59