Volusianus

Volusianus
Bust of Volusianus
Possible bust of Volusianus at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours.[1]
Roman emperor
Reignc. August 251 – August 253 (with Trebonianus Gallus)
PredecessorDecius and Herennius Etruscus
SuccessorAemilianus
DiedAugust 253
Interamna
Names
Gaius Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus (birth)[2]
Gaius Vibius Volusianus Caesar (251)[2]
Regnal name
Imperator Caesar Gaius Vibius Afinius Gallus Veldumnianus Volusianus Augustus[2]
FatherTrebonianus Gallus
MotherAfinia Gemina Baebiana

Gaius Vibius Volusianus (died August 253), commonly called Volusian, was a Roman emperor from 251 to 253, ruling with his father Trebonianus Gallus.

After Emperor Decius and his son and co-ruler Herennius Etruscus died in battle in June 251, Trebonianus Gallus was elected emperor in the field by the legion. Gallus raised Hostilian, the younger son of Decius, to augustus (co-emperor) and elevated Volusianus to caesar. After the death of Hostilian in July or August 251, Volusianus was raised to augustus. The short reign of Gallus and Volusianus was notable for the outbreak of a plague, which is said by some to be the reason for Hostilian's death, and for hostilities with the Sasanian Empire and the Goths. Volusianus and his father were killed in August 253 by their own soldiers, who were terrified of the forces of the usurper Aemilian which were marching towards Rome.

  1. ^ "Buste de Volusianus". Musée des Beaux-Arts.
  2. ^ a b c Cooley 2012, p. 498.