#regalianus

[corporialus]

Antoninianii of Regalianus

This was originally going to be part of the "Obscure Imperial Era Romans" thing I'm doing but regalianus has some of the goofiest looking coins in the entire imperial series, and he deserves a post of his own.

What should initially alarm you is that this coin is one that is considered to be in "fine style", meaning this is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to coins of Regalianus.

A short background on Regalianus: We know barely anything about Regalianus's life before the revolt, though we can assume he was someone of senatorial rank, due to his marriage to Dryantilla, who was a part of a wealthy family. Regalianus's revolt in the Danube probably rose from the ashes of a previous revolt led by Ingenuus earlier in 260 AD, with the danube regions hoping that Regalianius could succeed in securing the frontier where Ingenuus had failed. Regalianus's revolt was staged in Carnuntum while Gallienus was off dealing with an Alemanni invasion, and held to power for an unknown amount of timeDuring his stint as a usurper, Regalianus had coins bearing his portrait minted, something Ingenuus could not do. From these coins we can deduce that Regalianus co-ruled with his wife. We don't know how Regalianus was defeated or how he died.

Okay now to the horrible coins

Regalianus is known for making some of the worst looking coins of any Roman usurper, and that's saying something. A common theme across his coins are them being struck over older official coins. Yes, he literally recycled coinage, and this isn't the last time this would happen in roman history.

Regalian with the forehead of Maximinus Thrax, you can read the legends to the Maximinus coin clearer than the regalianus legends that were struck over it (see the "XIMINVS PIVS") above Regalian's head

Victim of workplace accident Regalian

Long ass neck Regalian

Regalian with Geta forever embedded into his forehead

this one gets funnier the longer you look at it

[classicalcivilisation]

The Barracks Emperors - part 3 (253-68)

18. Aemilian (3 months in 253) - he was commander of the Danube troops, and was acclaimed Emperor by his army, defeating Gallus... before being killed by his own men (in a shocking twist!) when Valerian proclaimed himself emperor and moved against him. Eutropius' summary of him is beautifully bitchy: "Aemilianus came from an extremely insignificant family, his reign was even more insignificant, and he was slain in the third month."

19. Valerian I (253-260) - Valerian came from a senatorial family, and was consul in 238, and negotiated with Gordian I for senatorial acknowledgement for his claim of emperor. He was marching to help quell Aemillian's revolt when first Gallus' troops murdered him, then Aemillian's troops murdered *him* (I am not kidding when I say this may be the most common cause of death for Barracks Emperors). He was defeated at the battle of Edessa in 260 by Shapur I... and then, during negotiations, taken prisoner and held for the rest of his life, however long that was. In one version, he was skinned and his skin stuffed with straw and held as a trophy - in another, he was forced to swallow molten gold, and in yet another was flayed alive. 

20. Gallienus (253-268) - Valerian's son, Gallienus is notable amongst the barracks emperors for surviving as co-emperor and sole ruler for *more then a decade*. That's pretty impressive. This is a pretty crummy time for the Roman Empire, though - it sees Britain, Spain, parts of Germania and large bits of Gaul break off to form the Gallic Empire (which survived until 274) under the general Postumus, as well as the loss of Palmyra - and numerous other minor rebellions, famine, and plagues. He was... oh, would you look at that. Assassinated by his advisers. 

21. Ingenuus (June 260) - leader of a brief revolt after Valerian I's capture, defeated by Gallienus' general Aureolus. Drowned himself in a river to avoid capture.

22. Regalianus (260) - Elected Emperor by by the Pannonians to deal with the Sarmatians. Shortly afterwards was killed by a coalition of his own people and the Roxoloni. 

23. Macrianus Minor (259/60 - 261) - His father, Macrianus Major, took Valerian's treasury and used that influence to have he and his brother nominated emperors. Was defeated in Thrace in 261 by Aureolus, and asked the legions to kill himself and his father rather then be delivered to him. 

24. Quietus (260-1) - Lost control of his provinces after his father and brother's death to Odaenathus of Palmyra, and was killed by the inhabitants of Emesa whilst it was besieged. 

25. Mussius Aemilianus (261/2) - Supported Macrinus' rebellion, possibly had himself proclaimed emperor after their fall. Was strangled in prison after being captured.

26. Aureolus (268) - A general who worked his way up from nothing, he was one of Gallienus' best generals. He staged a desperate coup against Gallienus after an unsuccessful attack on Postumus - who he possibly deliberately left alone - inviting him to join him. He surrendered to Claudius Gothicus, but the Praetorian Guard murdered him.