16 Facts About Claudius Gothicus

1.

Marcus Aurelius Claudius "Gothicus", known as Claudius II, was Roman emperor from 268 to 270.

2.

Claudius Gothicus died after succumbing to a "pestilence", possibly the Plague of Cyprian that had ravaged the provinces of the Empire.

3.

In 4th century, Claudius Gothicus was declared a relative of Constantine the Great's father, Constantius Chlorus, and, consequently, of the ruling dynasty.

4.

Claudius Gothicus was an Illyrian and came from Dalmatia or Illyricum, although it is possible that his place of birth was the region of Dardania in Moesia Superior.

5.

Claudius Gothicus was less magnanimous toward Rome's enemies and it was to this that he owed his popularity.

6.

When Claudius Gothicus performed as a wrestler in the 250s, he supposedly knocked out the teeth of his opponent when his genitalia had been grabbed in the match.

7.

Accounts tell of people hearing the news of the new emperor, and reacting by murdering Gallienus's family members until Claudius Gothicus declared he would respect the memory of his predecessor.

8.

Claudius Gothicus had the deceased emperor deified and buried in a family tomb on the Appian Way.

9.

Claudius Gothicus responded quickly, routing the Alamanni at the Battle of Lake Benacus in the late fall of 268, a few months after the Battle of Naissus.

10.

Claudius Gothicus won several victories and soon regained control of Hispania and the Rhone river valley of Gaul.

11.

Claudius Gothicus did not live long enough to fulfil his goal of reuniting all the lost territories of the empire.

12.

Claudius Gothicus was not the only man to reap the benefits of holding high office after the death of Gallienus.

13.

Claudius Gothicus assumed the consulship in 269 with Paternus, a member of the prominent senatorial family, the Paterni, who had supplied consuls and urban prefects throughout Gallienus's reign, and thus were quite influential.

14.

The victories of Claudius Gothicus over the Goths would not only make him a hero in Latin tradition, but an admirable choice as an ancestor for Constantine I, who was born at Naissus, the site of Claudius Gothicus's victory in 269.

15.

Claudius Gothicus is held in high esteem by Zonaras, whose Greek tradition seems to have been influenced by Latin.

16.

Claudius Gothicus has been linked to Saint Valentine since the Middle Ages.