Probus (emperor)
| Probus | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Over-life-sized marble bust in the Capitoline Museums, Rome | |||||||||
| Roman emperor | |||||||||
| Reign | c. June 276 – September 282 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Tacitus and Florian | ||||||||
| Successor | Carus | ||||||||
| Born | between 230 and 235 Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior, modern day Serbia | ||||||||
| Died | September 282 (aged 50) Sirmium | ||||||||
| Issue | Had descendants | ||||||||
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| Father | Dalmatius | ||||||||
Marcus Aurelius Probus (/ˈproʊbəs/; 230–235 – September 282) was Roman emperor from 276 to 282. Probus was an active and successful general as well as a conscientious administrator, and in his reign of six years he secured prosperity for the inner provinces while withstanding repeated invasions of barbarian tribes on almost every sector of the frontier.
After repelling the foreign enemies of the empire, Probus was forced to handle several internal revolts but demonstrated leniency and moderation to the vanquished wherever possible. Despite the military basis of his power, he presented himself as a constitutional monarch who respected the authority of the Roman Senate.
Upon defeating the Germans, Probus re-erected the fortifications of emperor Hadrian between the Rhine and Danube rivers, protecting the Agri Decumates, and exacted from the vanquished a tribute of manpower to resettle depopulated provinces within the empire and provide for adequate defense of the frontiers. Despite his widespread popularity, Probus was killed in a mutiny of the soldiers while in the middle of preparations for the Persian war, which would be carried out under his successor Carus.