Tetricus II

Tetricus II
Caesar of the Gallic Empire
Aureus of Tetricus II
Inscription: C. P. ESV. TETRICVS CAES.
Reign273–274 (as Caesar)
274 (possibly as Augustus)
PredecessorTetricus I
Names
Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus
FatherTetricus I
MotherNera Pivesuvia

Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus, better known as Tetricus II, was the son and heir of Tetricus I, emperor of the Gallic Empire from 271 to 274 AD.

In 273, he was given the title of Caesar alongside that of princeps iuventutis, and in January 274 he started his first consulship, together with his father.

After the defeat and deposition of his father in the autumn of 274 by the Emperor Aurelian, he and his father appeared as prisoners in Aurelian's triumph, but the emperor spared their lives. According to some sources, Tetricus II was also allowed to keep his senatorial rank.

There is some debate on whether he was proclaimed augustus on the final weeks on the Gallic empire, as the evidence (coins) for this are rare and of disputed authenticity (possibly barbarous issues).

References

  1. ↑ According to König (I. König, Die gallischen Usurpatoren von Postumus bis Tetricus, München 1981, p. 158ff.), the elevation to Caesar is to be placed in 271 or 272. Drinkwater (J. F. Drinkwater, The Gallic Empire. Separatism and Continuity in the North-Western Provinces of the Roman Empire A.D. 260-274, Stuttgart, 1987) has provided good reasons to support 273 as the year of elevation.
  2. ↑ Eutropius, Breviarium, 9.13.2.
  3. ↑ Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus, 35.5.
  4. ↑ Vagi 2000, pp. 385–397.
  5. ↑ PLRE, p. 885.