Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus
Encyclopedia
Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus (c. 190 - 243) was a Roman knight who lived in the 3rd century and was the most important advisor to Roman Emperor Gordian III
. Very little is known on his origins. Timesitheus was a Roman of equestrian rank.
emperor Elagabalus
. Timesitheus held a number of important provincial postings. He was adept
at finances and served in Spain
as a Promagistrate
. Between 218-222, the emperor promoted him and appointed him as Procurator
of Arabia and from 220 he became a Prefect
of the Cohort
s and held procuratorships in Syria
, Palestine
, Bithynia
, Pontus
, Paphlagonia
, Asia, Germania Inferior
, Gallia Belgica
, Gallia Aquitania
and Gallia Lugdunensis
. Timesitheus proved to be an able and efficient official.
In 241 the Roman Emperor Gordian III was looking for a responsible person to serve as Praetorian Prefect
and head of the Praetorian Guard
. Gordian had picked Timesitheus and appointed him to the position. Timesitheus was an important, responsible and prominent figure in the emperor’s reign and through his years of political experience was able to assist Gordian and Gordian’s mother Antonia Gordiana
in administering the Roman Empire
. An example of Timesitheus’ suitability in his position is that of May 241, Timesitheus had arranged with Gordian to marry his daughter Tranquillina
. The wife of Timesitheus is unknown. His daughter became a Roman Empress and her marriage to Gordian proved to be a very happy (albeit short-lived) union.
Timesitheus had proven to be a figure that would work with the emperor, not against the emperor. He ordered the improvements of the empire’s borders in Africa
. The Prefect began to organise war on Persia, whose King Shapur I
had recently invaded Roman Mesopotamia
and captured Nisibis
and Carrhae. In 243 Timesitheus defeated the Persians at the Battle of Resaena
and expelled them from Roman territory, regaining Carrhae and Nisibis. As he was planning more campaigns, Timesitheus suddenly became ill and died. Gordian, his mother and Tranquillina were sadden by his death. Gordian replaced him with Philip the Arab
.
Gordian III
Gordian III , was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known on his early life before his acclamation...
. Very little is known on his origins. Timesitheus was a Roman of equestrian rank.
Life
He started his career under the Severan dynastySeveran dynasty
The Severan dynasty was a Roman imperial dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. The dynasty was founded by the Roman general Septimius Severus, who rose to power during the civil war of 193, known as the Year of the Five Emperors....
emperor Elagabalus
Elagabalus
Elagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa...
. Timesitheus held a number of important provincial postings. He was adept
Adept
An adept is an individual identified as having attained a specific level of knowledge, skill, or aptitude in doctrines relevant to a particular author or organization.-H. P. Blavatsky:...
at finances and served in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as a Promagistrate
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
. Between 218-222, the emperor promoted him and appointed him as Procurator
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
of Arabia and from 220 he became a Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Cohort
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
s and held procuratorships in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
, Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
, Asia, Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior was a Roman province located on the left bank of the Rhine, in today's Luxembourg, southern Netherlands, parts of Belgium, and North Rhine-Westphalia left of the Rhine....
, Gallia Belgica
Gallia Belgica
Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern France, and western Germany. The indigenous population of Gallia Belgica, the Belgae, consisted of a mixture of Celtic and Germanic tribes...
, Gallia Aquitania
Gallia Aquitania
Gallia Aquitania was a province of the Roman Empire, bordered by the provinces of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gallia Narbonensis, and Hispania Tarraconensis...
and Gallia Lugdunensis
Gallia Lugdunensis
Gallia Lugdunensis was a province of the Roman Empire in what is now the modern country of France, part of the Celtic territory of Gaul. It is named after its capital Lugdunum , possibly Roman Europe's major city west of Italy, and a major imperial mint...
. Timesitheus proved to be an able and efficient official.
In 241 the Roman Emperor Gordian III was looking for a responsible person to serve as Praetorian Prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
and head of the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
. Gordian had picked Timesitheus and appointed him to the position. Timesitheus was an important, responsible and prominent figure in the emperor’s reign and through his years of political experience was able to assist Gordian and Gordian’s mother Antonia Gordiana
Antonia Gordiana
Antonia Gordiana was a prominent, wealthy and noble Roman woman that lived in the troubled and unstable 3rd century. She was the daughter of Roman Emperor Gordian I; sister to Roman Emperor Gordian II and mother to Roman Emperor Gordian III...
in administering the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. An example of Timesitheus’ suitability in his position is that of May 241, Timesitheus had arranged with Gordian to marry his daughter Tranquillina
Tranquillina
Furia Sabinia Tranquillina or Sabinia Tranquillina was the Empress of Rome and wife of Emperor Gordian III. She was the young daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus by an unknown wife....
. The wife of Timesitheus is unknown. His daughter became a Roman Empress and her marriage to Gordian proved to be a very happy (albeit short-lived) union.
Timesitheus had proven to be a figure that would work with the emperor, not against the emperor. He ordered the improvements of the empire’s borders in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The Prefect began to organise war on Persia, whose King Shapur I
Shapur I
Shapur I or also known as Shapur I the Great was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 240/42 - 270/72, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent prior to his father's death in 242 .-Early years:Shapur was the son of Ardashir I...
had recently invaded Roman Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
and captured Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
and Carrhae. In 243 Timesitheus defeated the Persians at the Battle of Resaena
Battle of Resaena
The Battle of Resaena or Resaina, near Ceylanpinar, Turkey, was fought in 243 between the forces of the Roman Empire, led by Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus, and a Sassanid Empire army, led by King Shapur I. The Romans were victorious....
and expelled them from Roman territory, regaining Carrhae and Nisibis. As he was planning more campaigns, Timesitheus suddenly became ill and died. Gordian, his mother and Tranquillina were sadden by his death. Gordian replaced him with Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab , also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He came from Syria, and rose to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire...
.