Editing Decius (section)

== Early life and rise to power ==

[[File:Trajan Decius Ant.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Antoninianus]] of Trajan Decius. Inscription: IMP. C. M. Q. TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG.]]

Trajanus Decius was born Gaius Messius Quintus Decius Valerinus at [[Budalia]], [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]], near [[Sirmium]] in [[Pannonia Inferior]].<ref name="Anc.Rome" >Lesley Adkins, Rot A. Adkins (2004). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=zGY1Sqjwf8kC&pg=PA51 Handbook to life in ancient Rome].''  Infobase. p. 28</ref> Decius was one of the first among a long succession of Roman emperors ([[Illyrian emperors]]) to originate from the Danube provinces, often referred to as Illyricum. Unlike some of his immediate imperial predecessors such as [[Philip the Arab]] or [[Maximinus Thrax]] who did not have extensive administrative experience before assuming the throne, Decius was a distinguished [[Roman Senate|senator]] who had served as suffect [[Roman consul|consul]] in 232, had been governor of [[Moesia]] and [[Germania Inferior]] soon afterwards, served as governor of [[Hispania Tarraconensis]] between 235 and 238, and was [[Praefectus urbi|urban prefect]] of Rome during the early reign of Emperor Philip the Arab.<ref name=Scarre169>Scarre 1995, p. 169</ref>

Around 245, [[Philip the Arab|Philip]] entrusted Decius with an important command on the Danube.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} By the end of 248 or 249, Decius was sent to quell the revolt of [[Pacatian]] and his troops in Moesia and Pannonia; some modern historians see this rebellion as a reflection of emerging Balkan separatism.<ref>Potter 2004, pp. 634–35, n. 106</ref> After the collapse of the revolt, Decius let the troops proclaim him emperor. Philip advanced against him and was killed at [[Battle of Verona (249)|Verona]], [[Italy]], in September 249.<ref>Potter 2004, pp. 240–41</ref> The [[Roman Senate|Senate]] then recognized Decius as emperor, giving him the attribute ''Traianus'' in reference to Emperor [[Trajan]]. According to the Byzantine historian [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]], Decius was clothed in purple and forced to undertake the [burdens of] government, despite his reluctance and unwillingness.<ref>Zosimus, New History I.22</ref>