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Gordian dynasty

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Part of a series on Roman imperial dynasties
Year of the Six Emperors
AD 238
Gordian Dynasty
238–244
The reign of Gordian I was very brief.
Monarch(s)
Chronology
Maximinus Thrax Philip the Arab

The Gordian dynasty was a short lived Roman imperial dynasty which ruled from 238–244 AD. The dynasty first achieved the throne in 238 AD, after Gordian I and his son Gordian II rose up against Emperor Maximinus Thrax, and were proclaimed emperors by the Roman Senate. Gordian II was killed by the governor of Numidia, Capillianus, and Gordian I killed himself shortly after, only 36 days after his having been declared emperor. On 22 April 238 Pupienus and Balbinus, who were not of the Gordian dynasty, were declared emperors, but the Roman Senate was forced to make Gordian III emperor on 27 May 238 due to the demands of the Roman people. Maximinus attempted to invade Italy, but he was killed by his own soldiers when his army became frustrated. After this, the Praetorian Guard killed Pupienus and Balbinus, leaving Gordian III as the sole emperor. Gordian III ruled until 244 AD, when he was either killed as a result of betrayal by Philip the Arab, killed directly by Philip the Arab, or killed at the Battle of Misiche. With him died the Gordian dynasty, and after his death Philip the Arab rose to become emperor.

History

The Gordian dynasty arose in opposition to Emperor Maximinus Thrax, who had been proclaimed by the army, but not the senate, and whose reign, lasting from 235–238 AD, was characterized by tyranny and brutality. Maximinus embezzled from the public treasury, and expropriated taxes collected by cities. He reversed the religious reforms of Emperor Severus Alexander, which had increased tolerance toward Christianity. During his reign, the popes Pontian and Anterus were put to death, along with the antipope Hippolytus. There was a vast amount of corruption during his rule, with his favored officials prosecuting individuals on false charges, and extorting huge fines.[1] His abuses towards the population led to an uprising in the province of Africa in 238, where the people rose up and killed his tax collectors. The movement gathered momentum rapidly, especially among the army, who proclaimed the governor of Roman Africa, Gordian I, the emperor.[2]

Emperor Maximinus Thrax.

A delegation of centurions was sent to Rome, firstly to assassinate P. Aelius Vitalianus, the Praetorian prefect, and secondly to spread a rumor that Maximinus had been killed while campaigning against the Sarmatians. The Roman Senate believed the rumor, and proclaimed Gordian I and his son Gordian II as co-emperors, in 238. In the same year, Capillianus, governor of Numidia, invaded Africa Proconsularis, and succeeded in killing Gordian II during the Battle of Carthage. Gordian I shortly thereafter hanged himself out of grief, 36 days after being declared emperor. After news of the death of both emperors' deaths, the Roman Senate formed a committee of twenty senators to elect the next emperor, resulting in the election of two of the senators on the committee, Pupienus and Balbinus, as emperors on 22 April 238.[2][3] However, large crowds gathered in Rome, demanding that a blood relative of Gordian I also be made emperor. The Senate acceded, and elected Gordian III, the son of Gordian I's daughter Antonia Gordiana, as third emperor, on 27 May 238.[2]

It was at this point that the news of the rebellion reached Maximinus. He took his Pannonian Legions and immediately marched to Italy. He attempted to gain the allegiance of the fortified city of Aquelia, and, failing that, assaulted the city.[2] After the siege went on for a long time with no results, a group of soldiers in his army decided to assassinate him. He and his son, Maximus, attempted negotiation, but were cut down.[4] Shortly thereafter, on 29 July 238, Pupienus and Balbinus were also killed by soldiers, who proclaimed Gordian III sole emperor.[5] At the beginning of Gordian III's reign, due to his young age of 13, the power was likely truly held by either the Roman Senate or Gordian's mother. Gordian disbanded the Legio III Augusta, which had been led by Capillianus in invading Africa, killing his uncle, and leading to the suicide of his grandfather. This disbandment was obviously done for punishment, as it weakened the protection of the Numidian frontier province. In 240 the governor of Roman Africa, Sabinianus, rebelled against Gordian III, but his rebellion was crushed by troops from neighbouring Mauretania. In 241 Gordian increasingly came under the influence of his Praetorian prefect, Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus, especially after the marriage of Gordian and Tranquillina, Timesitheus' daughter.[5]

When the Sassanids invaded Rome in 241, occupying the province of Syria, and capturing Antioch and Carrhae, Gordian III sent Timesitheus to counterattack, which he did successfully, recapturing the cities of Antioch and Carrhae, and winning a decisive victory at Battle of Resaena. However, between 242 and 243, while leading troops across the Euphrates, Timesitheus fell ill, and died from what is believed to have been an intestinal infection.[6] Shortly after this, in 244, Gordian III also died although the way he died is a matter of debate. There is evidence that Philip the Arab, who had been deputy Praetorian prefect, and who rose to the title of Praetorian prefect after the death of Timesitheus, actively undermined Gordian III's authority.[7] Zosimus and the Historia Augusta said that Philip the Arab conspired to have him killed by intentionally introducing deficiencies in supplies, so as to turn the army against him. Orosius, Festus, John of Antioch and Eutropius assert that Philip the Arab played a more direct role in having him killed, beginning to conspire after Gordian III won a great victory in Persia. George Syncellus, and the Epitome de Caesaribus say that Philip began planning to betray him before the army had reached Ctesiphon, and not after a great victory.[7] Byzantine and Persian sources, Zonaras and Cedrenus, and the Persian King Shapur I, wrote that Gordian III died in the Battle of Misiche.[7] Philip the Arab claimed the throne for himself after Gordian III died.[5][8]

Numanistics

Emperor Gordian III

During the reign of Gordian III, there was significant activity among the Greek coin mints, although activity in the Aegean Sea fell sharply, especially in the Cyclades, with the last known coin from that region being during his rule, minted at Sifnos[9] The Tetradrachm, a coin equivalent to four drachma, was produced again, having not been minted since the reign of Elagabalus, between 218–222, where only two mints produced it, and not having been widely minted since the reign of Macrinus, between 217–218. The production of Tetradrachms continued after Gordian's death, being widely produced until 253, when the last Tetradrachm was minted.[10] The Antoninianus, equivalent to 20 Assēs, which had been abandoned during the reign of Elagabalus, was brought back, and rapidly replaced the denarius, which was equivalent to 10 Assēs. After 240, apart from two large issues struck under Gordian, the denarius was only produced on a small local scale, until it was later brought back by Aurelian in 270.[11][12]

During the reign of Gordian III, the issue of the lack of uniformity in coin weight and quality became severe, with eastern mints consistently creating heavier and purer coins. For example, the Antoninianus' minted in Antioch had an average silver fineness of 43.5%, whereas those of Rome had only an average silver fineness of 36.8%. Because both coins were of similar average weight, this meant that the Antiochian coins were 15% purer than those of Rome.[13] Antioch became an increasingly important mint under Gordian, striking even gold coins, something previously only mints in the capital of Rome did in large scale. While Antioch had in past been a major minting centre only sporadically, minting more Tetradrachms than Roman denarii or antoninianus until the reign of Gordian.[14] During the reign of Gordian, provincial silver coins, produced from the important mints of Antioch, Caesaria, and Alexandria, increasingly came to be used by the state for funding, becoming roughly equal in use to that of the antoninianus.[15]

Throughout the reign of Gordian III, coins were used to establish Gordian III's legitimacy, and his fitness to rule. During the early reign of Gordian III, a large number of coins declaring the Virtus (virtue) of Gordian III were minted, but later coins bearing such a description ceased to be minted. The reason for this is likely that Gordian III, who was very young, and had never had any military position, was attempting to establish his virtus to the army, in order to compensate for his lack of experience.[16] Throughout his reign, coins in which Gordian holds a Victoriola, a statue which represents victory, declaring himself to possess 'victory' itself. This was likely also done to compensate for lack of experience. A number of coins bearing the description of invictissimus, the superlative form of invictus (invincible) were also minted, likely because the epithet, despite being linked to military victories, was flexible, and could be used to say that the person was assured to have victories in the future.[17]

Politics

During the reign of Gordian dynasty several reforms were made, mostly in provincial administration, fiscal policy, and the army. Under Gordian III, reforms were made to limit frivolous lawsuits. Focus was also placed on strengthening the defences of the Roman frontiers, and punishing any abuses of power in the provinces. Despite the efforts of the dynasty, this time period was marked by political and economic difficulty. Much of the state affairs during the late years of Gordian III were controlled by his wife Tranquillina.[18] Gordian enacted a rescript that removed the four year statute of limitation on seeking restitution for soldiers and state officials.[19] Of all the rescripts issued by Gordian, 13% went to soldiers.[20] During the reign of Gordian III, the Roman Empire paid tribute to the Goths systematically, in order to prevent raids.[21]

The Gordian dynasty also reversed the brief persecution of Christians by Maximinus, which was largely focused on the prosecution of bishops and popes. Gordian III ended all persecution of Christians during his reign, and Eusebius claims that Gordian III himself became Christian, and served penance for the sins of Maximinus.[22]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Laale 2011, p. 272.
  2. ^ a b c d Laale 2011, p. 273.
  3. ^ Hekster 2008, p. 14.
  4. ^ Laale 2011, pp. 273–274.
  5. ^ a b c Laale 2011, p. 274.
  6. ^ Hekster 2008, p. 19.
  7. ^ a b c Hebblewhite 2016, p. 28.
  8. ^ Brent 2009, p. 51.
  9. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 117.
  10. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 474.
  11. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 516.
  12. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 543.
  13. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 519.
  14. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 526.
  15. ^ Metcalf 2016, p. 527.
  16. ^ Hebblewhite 2016, p. 35.
  17. ^ Hebblewhite 2016, p. 42.
  18. ^ Lightman & Lightman 2008, p. 201.
  19. ^ Hebblewhite 2016, p. 123.
  20. ^ Hebblewhite 2016, p. 122.
  21. ^ Ando 2012, p. 118.
  22. ^ Hopkins 2009, p. 181.

Bibliography

  • Ando, Clifford (2012). Imperial Rome AD 193 to 284: The Critical Century. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748655342. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Brent, Allen (2009). A Political History of Early Christianity. London: T & T Clark. ISBN 9780567606051. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Hebblewhite, Mark (2016). The Emperor and the Army in the Later Roman Empire, AD 235–395. Abingdon: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317034308. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Hekster, Olivier (2008). Rome and its Empire, AD 193-284. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748629923. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Hopkins, Richard R. (2009). How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God. Cedar Fort: Horizon Pub & Dist Inc. ISBN 9780882907826. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Laale, Hans Willer (2011). Ephesus (Ephesos): An Abbreviated History From Androclus To Constantine XI. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press. ISBN 9781449716189. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Lightman, Marjorie; Lightman, Benjamin (2008). A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 9781438107943. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Metcalf, William E. (2016). The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199372188. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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