Silvanus[note 1] (died 7 September 355) was a Roman general and usurper of Frankish descent. He revolted in Gaul against Emperor Constantius II, claiming the imperial title for 28 days in AD 355.
Silvanus was born in Gaul, the son of Bonitus, a Laetic Frankish general who had supported Constantine I in the civil war against Licinius. Like so many other Franks of his times, and like his father before him, he was a loyal and thoroughly romanized "barbarian" in the military service of the Empire. By AD 351, he held the rank of tribune and was one of the senior officers who defected to Emperor Constantius II at the Battle of Mursa Major, after initially supporting the usurper Magnentius. An able soldier, Silvanus was eventually promoted to the crucial post of magister peditum per Gallias.[2][3] Gaul had been subject to raiding and looting by Alemanni tribesmen; in AD 352–353, Constantius entrusted Silvanus with the difficult task of driving the invaders back beyond the Rhine, and restoring the fast-eroding Roman authority in the province. Silvanus fulfilled his mission through a combination of military action and bribing the Alemannic chieftains with the taxes he had collected, and also suppressed the local bagaudae insurrections flaring up again in central and northern Gaul.
Trial and usurpationedit
The corrupt coterie of Constantius II managed to persuade the suspicious, paranoid emperor that Silvanus was planning to seize power. According to Ammianus, the praetorian prefect Lampadius and the ex-treasurer of the privy purse, Eusebius, acquired a letter sent by Silvanus to his friends in Rome, removed some of the text with a sponge, and forged a different text in its place.[4] The altered letter suggested that Silvanus was attempting to win support within the Senate for a coup. Constantius' court clique, with the exception of fellow Frankish generals Malarich and Mallobaudes, was uniformly against Silvanus. Courtiers Apodemius and Dynamius forged further correspondence that cast doubt on Silvanus' loyalty. Constantius then held a trial where Silvanus' allies were successful in defeating the spurious charges against the general. But Silvanus, unaware of the success of his supporters, responded to the threat of condemnation and execution by actually proclaiming himself emperor on 11 August 355 in Colonia Agrippina (modern Cologne).[5] Late Roman historian Michael Kulikowski has argued that the entire episode was a later invention, created as an excuse to rid Constantius II of Silvanus before he became a threat. His primary basis of this argument is the fact that no coins minted with Silvanus' image have been found to date, since virtually every usurper minted coins as an attempt to legitimize his authority.
Death of Silvanusedit
Constantius II, who was staying in Milan, ordered Silvanus to present himself at court, then sent Ursicinus to take over Silvanus' post. Ursicinus was himself at odds with Constantius' clique, and Silvanus no doubt trusted the veteran general. The letter that Ursicinus gave to Silvanus did not indicate that Constantius already knew of Silvanus' bid for power, so Silvanus considered himself safe. However it seems that Ursicinus betrayed and then arranged for the murder of Silvanus by co-opting some of the rebel soldiery. These men killed the usurper's guards and cornered Silvanus, who was on his way to church, then hacked him to death with their weapons.
Ammianus's report of Silvanus' deathedit
It has been suggested by at least one scholar that Ammianus invented the entire coup attempt to gloss over the role played by his patron, Ursicinus, in the murder of a fellow general.[6] This theory suggests that Constantius had grown suspicious of the popular Frankish general and so offered his post to Ursicinus, who then murdered his peer in the course of a botched change of command. It has been noted that Silvanus did not mint any coinage (which would have been a clear indication of a usurpation attempt), unlike other equally short-lived usurpers of the era, such as Poemenius.[7] However, the thesis of a concocted coup attempt is generally rejected by scholars.[8] The lack of numismatic evidence is not determinative, because Trier, the nearest minting centre to Colonia Agrippina, closed its gates to Silvanus.
Ammianus concludes his treatment of the Silvanus episode:
Such was the end of a commander of no small merit, who was driven by fear of the slanders in which a hostile clique had ensnared him in his absence to adopt extreme measures in self-defence.[9]
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^An inscription in Italy (CIL X, 6945) refers to an imperial pretender named "Claudius Silvanus", but its authenticity is doubtful since Silvanus was not recognized there, and the emperor Constantius II then resided at Milan.[1]
Citationsedit
^Alexander Demandt, Die Spätantike: Römische Geschichte von Diocletian bis Justinian 284–565 n. Chr. 2, p. 109, note 55.
^The argument that the usurpation was the product of a breakdown in communications between Constantius and his general in the field has been well argued by Nutt.
^See David Hunt's handling of Drinkwater's argument in "The Outsider Inside: Ammianus on the Rebellion of Silvanus" in Jan Willem Drijvers and David Hunt, eds., The Late Roman World and its Historian: Interpreting Ammianus Marcellinus (London, 1999).
The story of Silvanus short reign is told by Ammianus Marcellinus in his History, at 15.5, with further details scattered through the rest of his work
Biography of Silvanus DiMaio, Michael, "Silvanus (355 A.D.)", De Imperatoribus Romanis
Cameron, Averil and Garnsey, Peter (Eds.). (1998). The Cambridge Ancient History: Volume 13, the Late Empire, AD 337–425. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-30200-5
Sir Ronald Syme, Ammianus and the Historia Augusta (Oxford: 1968).
J.F. Matthews, The Roman Empire of Ammianus (London: 1989).
T.D. Barnes, "Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality" (Ithaca: 1998).
Jan Willem Drijvers and David Hunt, eds., The Late Roman World and its Historian: Interpreting Ammianus Marcellinus (London, 1999).
D.C. Nutt, "Silvanus and the Emperor Constantius II" 7 9 (1973) Antichthon 80–89.
January 01, 1970
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message Silvanus note 1 died 7 September 355 was a Roman general and usurper of Frankish descent He revolted in Gaul against Emperor Constantius II claiming the imperial title for 28 days in AD 355 Contents 1 Origin and career 2 Trial and usurpation 3 Death of Silvanus 4 Ammianus s report of Silvanus death 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 5 3 SourcesOrigin and career editSilvanus was born in Gaul the son of Bonitus a Laetic Frankish general who had supported Constantine I in the civil war against Licinius Like so many other Franks of his times and like his father before him he was a loyal and thoroughly romanized barbarian in the military service of the Empire By AD 351 he held the rank of tribune and was one of the senior officers who defected to Emperor Constantius II at the Battle of Mursa Major after initially supporting the usurper Magnentius An able soldier Silvanus was eventually promoted to the crucial post of magister peditum per Gallias 2 3 Gaul had been subject to raiding and looting by Alemanni tribesmen in AD 352 353 Constantius entrusted Silvanus with the difficult task of driving the invaders back beyond the Rhine and restoring the fast eroding Roman authority in the province Silvanus fulfilled his mission through a combination of military action and bribing the Alemannic chieftains with the taxes he had collected and also suppressed the local bagaudae insurrections flaring up again in central and northern Gaul Trial and usurpation editThe corrupt coterie of Constantius II managed to persuade the suspicious paranoid emperor that Silvanus was planning to seize power According to Ammianus the praetorian prefect Lampadius and the ex treasurer of the privy purse Eusebius acquired a letter sent by Silvanus to his friends in Rome removed some of the text with a sponge and forged a different text in its place 4 The altered letter suggested that Silvanus was attempting to win support within the Senate for a coup Constantius court clique with the exception of fellow Frankish generals Malarich and Mallobaudes was uniformly against Silvanus Courtiers Apodemius and Dynamius forged further correspondence that cast doubt on Silvanus loyalty Constantius then held a trial where Silvanus allies were successful in defeating the spurious charges against the general But Silvanus unaware of the success of his supporters responded to the threat of condemnation and execution by actually proclaiming himself emperor on 11 August 355 in Colonia Agrippina modern Cologne 5 Late Roman historian Michael Kulikowski has argued that the entire episode was a later invention created as an excuse to rid Constantius II of Silvanus before he became a threat His primary basis of this argument is the fact that no coins minted with Silvanus image have been found to date since virtually every usurper minted coins as an attempt to legitimize his authority Death of Silvanus editConstantius II who was staying in Milan ordered Silvanus to present himself at court then sent Ursicinus to take over Silvanus post Ursicinus was himself at odds with Constantius clique and Silvanus no doubt trusted the veteran general The letter that Ursicinus gave to Silvanus did not indicate that Constantius already knew of Silvanus bid for power so Silvanus considered himself safe However it seems that Ursicinus betrayed and then arranged for the murder of Silvanus by co opting some of the rebel soldiery These men killed the usurper s guards and cornered Silvanus who was on his way to church then hacked him to death with their weapons Ammianus s report of Silvanus death editIt has been suggested by at least one scholar that Ammianus invented the entire coup attempt to gloss over the role played by his patron Ursicinus in the murder of a fellow general 6 This theory suggests that Constantius had grown suspicious of the popular Frankish general and so offered his post to Ursicinus who then murdered his peer in the course of a botched change of command It has been noted that Silvanus did not mint any coinage which would have been a clear indication of a usurpation attempt unlike other equally short lived usurpers of the era such as Poemenius 7 However the thesis of a concocted coup attempt is generally rejected by scholars 8 The lack of numismatic evidence is not determinative because Trier the nearest minting centre to Colonia Agrippina closed its gates to Silvanus Ammianus concludes his treatment of the Silvanus episode Such was the end of a commander of no small merit who was driven by fear of the slanders in which a hostile clique had ensnared him in his absence to adopt extreme measures in self defence 9 References editNotes edit An inscription in Italy CIL X 6945 refers to an imperial pretender named Claudius Silvanus but its authenticity is doubtful since Silvanus was not recognized there and the emperor Constantius II then resided at Milan 1 Citations edit Alexander Demandt Die Spatantike Romische Geschichte von Diocletian bis Justinian 284 565 n Chr 2 p 109 note 55 RE Silvanus 4 PLRE I pp 840 841 Ammianus Marcellinus History 15 2 3 The argument that the usurpation was the product of a breakdown in communications between Constantius and his general in the field has been well argued by Nutt See David Hunt s handling of Drinkwater s argument in The Outsider Inside Ammianus on the Rebellion of Silvanus in Jan Willem Drijvers and David Hunt eds The Late Roman World and its Historian Interpreting Ammianus Marcellinus London 1999 Barnes Syme Matthews Ammianus Marcellinus History 15 5 32 Sources edit The story of Silvanus short reign is told by Ammianus Marcellinus in his History at 15 5 with further details scattered through the rest of his work Biography of Silvanus DiMaio Michael Silvanus 355 A D De Imperatoribus Romanis Cameron Averil and Garnsey Peter Eds 1998 The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 13 the Late Empire AD 337 425 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 30200 5 Sir Ronald Syme Ammianus and the Historia Augusta Oxford 1968 J F Matthews The Roman Empire of Ammianus London 1989 T D Barnes Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality Ithaca 1998 Jan Willem Drijvers and David Hunt eds The Late Roman World and its Historian Interpreting Ammianus Marcellinus London 1999 D C Nutt Silvanus and the Emperor Constantius II 7 9 1973 Antichthon 80 89 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silvanus magister peditum amp oldid 1206622001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
