Nepotianus
Encyclopedia
Iulius Nepotianus commonly known in English as Nepotian, 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
.
, half-sister of Emperor
Constantine I
, and of Virius Nepotianus. On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Emperor Constantius Chlorus
and Flavia Maximiana Theodora
.
, Nepotianus proclaimed himself "emperor" and entered Rome with a band of gladiator
s on 3 June 350. 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 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. In the following days, his mother Eutropia was also killed, during the persecution of the supporters of Nepotianus, most of whom were senators.
Constantinian dynasty
The Constantinian dynasty is an informal name for the ruling family of the Roman Empire from Constantius Chlorus to the death of Julian in 363. It is named after its most famous member, Constantine the Great who became the sole ruler of the empire in 324...
who reigned as a short-lived usurper
Roman usurper
Usurpers are individuals or groups of individuals who obtain and maintain the power or rights of another by force and without legal authority. Usurpation was endemic during roman imperial era, especially from the crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule.The...
of 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....
. He ruled the city of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for twenty-eight days, before being killed by his rival usurper Magnentius
Magnentius
Flavius Magnus Magnentius was a usurper of the Roman Empire .-Early life and career:...
' general Marcellinus
Marcellinus (magister officiorum)
Marcellinus was a Roman Empire officer under Roman Emperor Constans and usurper Magnentius.Marcellinus was comes rerum privatarum of Emperor Constans. He played a major role in the election of Magnentius to the rank of Augustus at Augustodunum, on January 18, 350...
.
Background
Nepotianus was the son of EutropiaEutropia (princess)
Eutropia was the daughter of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and of Flavia Maximiana Theodora, and therefore half-sister of Emperor Constantine I.- Biography :...
, half-sister of Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
, and of Virius Nepotianus. On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Emperor Constantius Chlorus
Constantius Chlorus
Constantius I , commonly known as Constantius Chlorus, was Roman Emperor from 293 to 306. He was the father of Constantine the Great and founder of the Constantinian dynasty. As Caesar he defeated the usurper Allectus in Britain and campaigned extensively along the Rhine frontier, defeating the...
and Flavia Maximiana Theodora
Flavia Maximiana Theodora
Flavia Maximiana Theodora was the stepdaughter of Maximian. Her parents were Flavius Afranius Hannibalianus and wife, divorced before 283, Eutropia, later wife of Maximian. Theodora's father was consul in 292, and praetorian prefect under Diocletian...
.
Events
After the revolt of MagnentiusMagnentius
Flavius Magnus Magnentius was a usurper of the Roman Empire .-Early life and career:...
, Nepotianus proclaimed himself "emperor" and entered Rome with a band of gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
s on 3 June 350. After attempting to resist Nepotianus with an undisciplined force of Roman citizens, the defeated Praefectus urbi
Praefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
Titianus (or Anicius, or Anicetus), a supporter of Magnentius, fled the city.
Magnentius quickly dealt with this revolt by sending his trusted magister officiorum
Magister officiorum
The magister officiorum was one of the most senior administrative officials in the late Roman Empire and the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire...
Marcellinus
Marcellinus (magister officiorum)
Marcellinus was a Roman Empire officer under Roman Emperor Constans and usurper Magnentius.Marcellinus was comes rerum privatarum of Emperor Constans. He played a major role in the election of Magnentius to the rank of Augustus at Augustodunum, on January 18, 350...
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. In the following days, his mother Eutropia was also killed, during the persecution of the supporters of Nepotianus, most of whom were senators.