Proculus derived his origin from the Franks. He was a nobleman who lived in Albingaunum, but his ancestors had been brigands and were the source of his vast wealth. He was married to a woman called Samso and he had at least one son, called Herennianus.
Proculus was an experienced soldier and when the people of Lugdunum, because of their fears for the emperorProbus, asked him to take imperial office, he accepted. He was able to arm 2000 slaves of his own after seizing imperial office.
Probus on his return from Syria forced Proculus to retreat north, and after failing to find support by the Franks, he was betrayed by them and handed over to Probus, who had him killed. (ca. 281)
There exists a letter from Proculus (probably fictitious but quite interesting), that is also mentioned by Gibbon:
Proculus Maeciano adfini salutum dicit. centum ex Sarmatia virgines cep, ex his una nocte decem inivi; omnes tamen, quod in me erat, mulieres intra dies quindecim reddidi.
The writer of the Vita Probi in the Historia Augusta indicates that in 280 A.D. Proculus revolted in the vicinity of the city of Lugdunum, which had been severely dealt with by Aurelian and, for reasons not given, spurred on by this fear, had adopted a hostile attitude towards Probus.
Proculus apparently had some connections to the Franks and he had hoped to rally them to his cause.
"Proculus (8a)," col. 75-76; Henze, RE, 2.2, col.2522; although Kienast accepts the outline of events spelled out in the SHA, he rightly believes that many of the details included about Proculus' life should be considered dubious (Römische Kaisertabelle, 252-253); Barnes rejects all the details of Proculus' career contained in the SHA (Phoenix, 26 [1972], 168).
Feeds |
Contact