Editing Florianus

{{short description|Roman emperor in 276}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = Aureus Florianus Ticinum (obverse).jpg
| image_size   = 
| alt          = 
| caption      = 
| succession   = [[Roman emperor]]
| reign        = {{circa}} June–September 276
| predecessor  = [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]]
| successor    = [[Probus (emperor)|Probus]]
| birth_date   = 
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = {{circa}} September 276<ref>{{cite book|last=Peachin|first=Michael|url=https://archive.org/details/ritac235|title=Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235–284|publisher=Gieben|year=1990|isbn=90-5063-034-0|place=Amsterdam|pages=46–47}}</ref>
| death_place  = [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]], [[Cilicia]]
| burial_place = 
| full name    = Marcus Annius Florianus
| regnal name  = Imperator Caesar Marcus Annius Florianus Augustus<ref>{{cite book |last=Cooley |year=2012 |first=Alison E. |title=The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=500|isbn=978-0-521-84026-2 |url={{googlebooks|VlghAwAAQBAJ|plainurl=y}} |author-link=Alison E. Cooley }}</ref>
}}

'''Marcus Annius Florianus''' (died 276), also known as '''Florian''', was briefly [[Roman emperor]] in the year 276. He took the throne after the murder of his half-brother [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]], but was killed after 88 days by his own troops during his confrontation with the rival emperor [[Probus (emperor)|Probus]], who took over the Eastern provinces after Tacitus' death.

==History==
[[File:Tacitus Ant.jpg|thumb|left|[[Antoninianus]] of Tacitus. Legend: IMPerator Caesar Marcus CLavdius TACITVS AVGustus.]]
In late 275, Florianus' maternal half-brother, [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]], was proclaimed emperor after the unexpected death of [[Aurelian]]. Soon after, Tacitus appointed Florianus as [[praetorian prefect]].{{sfn|Meijer|2004|p=102}}{{sfn|Hebblewhite|2016|p=11}} Tacitus then ordered Florianus to lead troops to [[Pannonia]], in order to repel raids into Roman territory by the [[Goths]].{{Sfn|Bédoyère|2017|p=259}} Tacitus died suddenly around June 276,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peachin |first=Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/ritac235 |title=Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235–284 |date=1990 |publisher=Gieben |isbn=9-0506-3034-0 |location=Amsterdam |pages=46-47}}</ref> allegedly as a consequence of a military plot, and Florianus swiftly proclaimed himself emperor, and was recognized as such by the [[Roman Senate]] and the western provinces.{{sfn|Meijer|2004|p=103}} Florianus then continued to campaign against the Goths, winning a major victory before the news reached him of the revolt of [[Probus (emperor)|Probus]], who had served successfully as a commander under both Aurelian and Tacitus. Probus' revolt was supported by the provinces of [[Roman Egypt|Egypt]], [[Roman Syria|Syria]], [[Roman Palestine|Palestine]], and [[Roman Phoenicia|Phoenicia]].{{sfn|Meijer|2004|p=103}}
[[File:Florianus - Münzkabinett, Berlin - 5485831.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Medallion of Florian]]
Probus took advantage of his control of Egyptian grain, which he used to swiftly cut off the supply of grain to the rest of the empire. He led his troops to [[Asia Minor]], in order to defend the [[Cilician Gates]], allowing him to utilize [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla tactics]] to wage a [[Attrition warfare|war of attrition]] rather than a straightforward confrontation. Florianus led his troops to [[Cilicia]], and [[billeted]] his forces in [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]]. However, many of his troops, who were unaccustomed to the hot climate of the area, fell ill due to a summer heat wave. Upon learning of this, Probus launched raids around the city, in order to weaken the morale of Florianus' forces. This strategy was successful, and Florianus lost control of his army, which rose up against him and killed him.{{sfn|Meijer|2004|p=103}} Florianus' reign lasted less than three months, 88 days to be precise.<ref>[[Jerome]] ({{Circa}} 380) ''[[Chronicon (Jerome)|Chronicon]]'', [https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_chronicle_03_part2.htm 264th Olympiad]. "After he had been slain at Pontus, Florian obtained power for 88 days. After he too had been killed at Tarsus." After the lost ''[[Chronicon (Eusebius)|Chronicon]]'' of [[Eusebius]] ({{Circa}} 325).</ref><ref>[[Filocalus]], ''[[Chronograph of 354]]'', [https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chronography_of_354_16_chronicle_of_the_city_of_rome.htm Part 16]: "Florian ruled 88 days. He was killed at Tharsus."</ref><ref>[[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], [https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/eutropius_breviarium_2_text.htm 9:16]. "Florianus, who succeeded Tacitus, was on the throne only two months and twenty days, and did nothing worthy of mention."</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Roman emperors]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|20em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last1=Bédoyère|first1=Guy de la|title=Praetorian: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Imperial Bodyguard|date=2017|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300226270}}
* {{cite book|last1=Hebblewhite|first1=Mark|title=The Emperor and the Army in the Later Roman Empire, AD 235–395|date=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317034308}}
* {{cite book|last1=Meijer|first1=Fik|title=Emperors Don't Die in Bed|date=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415312011}}
* {{cite book|last1=Syvanne|first1=Ilkka|title=Military History of Late Rome 284-361|date=2015|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=9781848848559}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Florianus}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Marcus Claudius Tacitus|Tacitus]] }}
{{s-ttl | title=[[List of Roman emperors|Roman emperor]]
        | years= 276 }}
{{s-aft | after=[[Marcus Aurelius Probus|Probus]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Roman Emperors}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:276 deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century Roman emperors]]
[[Category:3rd-century murdered monarchs]]
[[Category:Crisis of the Third Century]]
[[Category:Annii|Florianus, Marcus]]
[[Category:Murdered Roman emperors]]
[[Category:Praetorian prefects]]