Victoria (Roman usurper)
Encyclopedia
Victoria, also known as Vitruvia, was a leader in the roman breakaway realm Gallic Empire
in the late 3rd century. She was the mother of Victorinus
, who ruled as Gallic Emperor until his assassination in 271. Afterwards, Victoria used her authority to stabilize the empire and select a successor.
Victoria is mentioned in Aurelius Victor
's Liber de Caesaribus, and in the account of the Thirty Tyrants
in the unreliable Historia Augusta. Nothing is known of her early life, though she must have been from a wealthy and distinguished Gallic
family, which produced the emperor Victorinus
, her son. According to Aurelius Victor, after Victorinus was killed in a mutiny, Victoria stepped in, using her copious resources to buy the support of the legions. Thus she assured the ascension of her chosen candidate for emperor, Tetricus I
, formerly the governor of Gallia Aquitania
. The Historia Augusta, which counts her as one of Rome's "Thirty Tyrants", adds additional details, claiming that Victoria initially made Victorinus' otherwise unattested son, Victorinus Junior
, emperor, but that he too was soon killed. The Historia also says that she herself bore the titles Mater Castrorum ("Mother of the Camp") and Augusta
and minted her own coins, but that she died shortly after Tetricus' ascension either by murder or natural causes. However, given the Historias notorious unreliability, the veracity of these elements are doubtful.
Gallic Empire
The Gallic Empire is the modern name for a breakaway realm that existed from 260 to 274. It originated during the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century....
in the late 3rd century. She was the mother of Victorinus
Victorinus
Marcus Piavonius Victorinus was emperor of the secessionist Gallic Empire from 269 to 271, following the brief reign of Marius. He was murdered by a jealous husband whose wife he tried to seduce.-Reign:...
, who ruled as Gallic Emperor until his assassination in 271. Afterwards, Victoria used her authority to stabilize the empire and select a successor.
Victoria is mentioned in Aurelius Victor
Aurelius Victor
Sextus Aurelius Victor was a historian and politician of the Roman Empire.Aurelius Victor was the author of a History of Rome from Augustus to Julian , published ca. 361. Julian honoured him and appointed him prefect of Pannonia Secunda...
's Liber de Caesaribus, and in the account of the Thirty Tyrants
Thirty Tyrants (Roman)
The Thirty Tyrants were a series of thirty rulers that appear in the Historia Augusta as having ostensibly been pretenders to the throne of the Roman Empire during the reign of the emperor Gallienus....
in the unreliable Historia Augusta. Nothing is known of her early life, though she must have been from a wealthy and distinguished Gallic
Gauls
The Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
family, which produced the emperor Victorinus
Victorinus
Marcus Piavonius Victorinus was emperor of the secessionist Gallic Empire from 269 to 271, following the brief reign of Marius. He was murdered by a jealous husband whose wife he tried to seduce.-Reign:...
, her son. According to Aurelius Victor, after Victorinus was killed in a mutiny, Victoria stepped in, using her copious resources to buy the support of the legions. Thus she assured the ascension of her chosen candidate for emperor, Tetricus I
Tetricus I
Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus was Emperor of the Gallic Empire from 271 to 274, following the murder of Victorinus. Tetricus, who ruled with his son, Tetricus II, was the last of the Gallic emperors following his surrender to the Roman emperor Aurelian.-Reign:Tetricus was a senator born to a noble...
, formerly the governor of 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...
. The Historia Augusta, which counts her as one of Rome's "Thirty Tyrants", adds additional details, claiming that Victoria initially made Victorinus' otherwise unattested son, Victorinus Junior
Victorinus Junior
Victorinus iunior was an usurper against Roman Emperor Aurelian, according to the Historia Augusta. He is included in the list of the Thirty Tyrants....
, emperor, but that he too was soon killed. The Historia also says that she herself bore the titles Mater Castrorum ("Mother of the Camp") and Augusta
Augusta (honorific)
Augusta was the imperial honorific title of empresses. It was given to the women of the Roman and Byzantine imperial families. In the third century, Augustae could also receive the titles of Mater castrorum and Mater Patriae .The title implied the greatest prestige, with the Augustae able to...
and minted her own coins, but that she died shortly after Tetricus' ascension either by murder or natural causes. However, given the Historias notorious unreliability, the veracity of these elements are doubtful.