Editing Hostilian (section)

==History==
[[File:INC-2038-a Ауреус. Гостилиан. Ок. 251 г. (аверс).png|left|thumb|[[Aureus]] of Hostilian as ''[[Caesar (title)|caesar]]'']]
Hostilian was born at an unknown date, to [[Decius]], a Roman general who later became Emperor, and his wife [[Herennia Etruscilla]]. He had a brother, [[Herennius Etruscus]], and one sister. His full name based on coinage and inscriptions was Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus, but to this the historian [[Aurelius Victor]] adds Perpenna or Perperna, a name of [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]] origin.{{sfn|Benson|2004|p=243}}

In September 249 the army of Decius declared him emperor, in opposition to [[Philip the Arab]]. He defeated and killed Philip in a battle near [[Battle of Verona (249)|Verona]], after which the [[Roman Senate]] confirmed Decius's appointment and honoured him with the name ''Traianus'', a reference to Emperor [[Trajan]].{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|1998|p=28}}{{sfn|Chrystal|2015|p=193}}{{sfn|Varner|2004|p=207}}

In or around September 250,{{sfn|Peachin|1990|pp=33-34}}{{sfn|Kienast|Eck|Heil|p=198}} Decius appointed both his sons ''[[Caesar (title)|caesars]]''{{sfn|Salisbury|Mattingly|1924|p=15}} and in May 251 Herennius Etruscus was elevated to the rank of ''[[Augustus (title)|augustus]]'', which made Decius and Etruscus co-emperors, with Hostilian as the heir of either or both of them.{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|1998|p=28}}{{sfn|Salisbury|Mattingly|1924|p=15}}{{sfn|Bunson|2014|p=265}} In June 251, Decius and Herennius Etruscus were killed by the [[Goths]] at the [[Battle of Abritus]], and [[Trebonianus Gallus]] was declared emperor. To placate the public after this abrupt change of rulers, Gallus elevated Hostilian to ''augustus''.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|pp=255–256}}{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|1998|p=28}}{{sfn|Salisbury|Mattingly|1924|p=16}} After a short period as co-emperor, Hostilian died in circumstances which are still disputed.{{sfn|Salisbury|Mattingly|1924|p=16}} His death is sometimes dated to November,{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|1998|p=28}} but contemporary sources indicate that he died in or before August, probably in July.{{sfn|Peachin|1990|pp=33-34}}{{sfn|Kienast|Eck|Heil|p=198}} [[Aurelius Victor]] and the author of the ''[[Epitome de Caesaribus]]'' say that Hostilian died of a plague. [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] claims that he was killed by Trebonianus Gallus.{{sfn|Manders|2012|p=18}} Gallus's son [[Volusianus]] became the new co-emperor.{{sfn|Adkins|Adkins|1998|p=28}}

Some historians identify Hostilian as the Roman general depicted in the ''[[Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus]]'', but this is unlikely given that all of his coins depict him as a beardless young boy.{{sfn|Wood|1987|p=126}} It's possible that both Hostilian and Herennius Etruscus were still children or teenagers at the time of their death.{{sfn|Wood|1987|p=126}}