Faustinus

Faustinus was a 3rd-century CE political figure who launched a rebellion against the Gallic Emperor Tetricus I.[1] His full name and his year of birth are unknown.[1] According to a small number of literary sources (Aurelius Victor,[2] Eutropius,[3] and Polemius Silvius[4]), Faustinus sparked a mutiny among Tetricus' troops.[4] At the time of his rebellion, Faustinus was a provincial governor (praeses),[2] presumably of Gallia Belgica since the capital of that province—Augusta Treverorum—was where the rebellion began.[1] Faustinus' revolt was formidable enough, according to the literary sources, to lead Tetricus to appeal to the central Roman emperor Aurelian for aid against the usurper.[2][3][4][5]

The exact date of his rebellion is uncertain, but scholars generally agree on some time between late 273 CE and the summer of 274 CE.[1] Some ancient sources suggest that Faustinus continued his revolt after Tetricus surrendered to Aurelian, who in this scenario would have defeated Faustinus in 274 CE.[6]

Faustinus may have owned property in Britain that was confiscated after the failure of his rebellion.[7]

References

1. Polfer (1999).
2. Aurelius Victor 35.4, cited in Polfer (1999).
3. Eutropius, Breviarium 9.10-13.
4. Polemius Silvius, Laterculus 49, cited in Polfer (1999).
5. Orosius, Historiarum adversus paganos VII.23.5, cited in Polfer (1999).
6. König, I. (1981). Die gallischen Usurpatoren von Postumus bis Tetricus. München. p. 181. ISBN 9783406048012., cited in Polfer (1999), who objects that by this timeline, Faustinus should have had time to strike his own coins, but none have been found.
7. Stevens, C. E. (1966), "The social and economic aspect of rural settlement", Rural settlement in Roman Britain, CBA Research reports 7, C. Thomas (ed.), London, p. 122, cited in Polfer (1999).

Sources

• Polfer, Michel (1999). "Faustinus". De Imperatoribus Romanis.