Having enjoyed a few of the recent educational style posts of jamesicus and maridvnvm and with it again being very quiet in the ancients section I thought I would have a go.
My area of interest and collection is quite narrow but hopefully this will be of interest to somebody else.
Postumus 260-268
Postumus was probably of Germanic decent, a successful soldier he rose to the rank of governor of Germainia under the Emperor Gallienus. Saloninus, the second son of Gallienus was tasked with defending the Rhine from the Germanic Tribes and was to be protected by Postumus and Silvanus. Gallienus was busy in the South quelling usurpers Macrianus Major, Minor and Quietus and what could possibly go wrong leaving his son and two of his best soldiers in charge (did they never learn!). Silvanus was either co-governer with Postumus or as Postumus was a senior military figure.
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG..........FELICITAS AVG
Felicitas standing left with long caduceus & cornucopiaeHaving defeated some local barbarians and confiscated their 'booty' Postumus distributed it between his troops rather than returning it to Saloninus and Silvanus. Upon hearing this Silvanus went into a rage and demanded it be collected and given to him. Despite submitting to this demand Postumus made little effort to carry it out and (possibly as he expected) his soldiers mutinied and proclaimed him Emperor. Riding a tiger of military discontent which he could barely control he marched upon Cologne and besieged Saloninus and Silvanus. Saloninus's troops in desperation proclaimed him emperor hoping to dissuade Postumus' army from attacking but it was to no avail and after a few weeks Saloninus and his protector were handed over to Postumus by their own troops. They were both killed immediately by the troops of Postumus.
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG..........HERC DEVSONIENSI
Hercules standing right, leaning on club, holding lion's skin and bowProclaiming himself Emperor of Gaul, Britain and Spain Postumus set his capital up in Cologne complete with its own senate, consuls and praetorian guard. This was the start of what is now called the Gallic Empire. The Roman Empire at this point was probably too big and its resources too thinly spread to be easily ruled by one man in Rome. This was later confirmed when Diocletian split the Empire on April 1st 286. Postumus minted his own coins in Colonge, Trier, Lugdunum (some dispute still exists about exactly where) and for a short time in Milan when Aurelous openly changed sides and allied himself with Postumus and against Gallienus. Postumus, strangely, failed to support Aurelous. Postumus is also known for producing better quality coins than Gallienus in both craftsmanship and metal content.
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG..........HERC PACIFERO
Hercules standing left with olive branch, club and lion's skinPostumus successfully defended his 'Empire' from the Germans and also from an attack of Gallienus in 263. Gallienus was seriously wounded and needed to return home, he never again attempted to dislodge Postumus. Despite being named as one of the thirty tyrants of Rome Postumus is now regarded as being an able, successful and probably well liked Emperor. It is however thought that he perhaps came by the position of 1st Galic Emperor more by chance than design and he was ultimately controlled by his army.
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG..........SAECVLI FELICITAS
Postumus standing right with transverse spear and globePostumus was himself challenged by a usurper in 268. Laelianus, one of Postumus' top military leaders was declared emperor in Mainz by the local garrison and surrounding troops. Although Postumus was able to quickly capture Mainz and kill Laelianus, he was unable to control his own troops and they turned on him and killed him. It is though that the main reason for this was the fact that Postumus would not allow them to plunder Mainz after the battle.
IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG..........VICTORIA AVG
Victory advancing left, wreath in right, palm frond over shoulder in left, captive at feetNothing of any real value or high quality in the pictures, all were bought for about £6GBP.
Posted 12/21/2010 6:23 pm
