Greetings all,
Today we reflect on the Gaulish usurper Claudius Silvanus being declared Emperor of the West by his troops on August 11th in 355 AD:
Silvanus had sided with Emperor Constantius II against Licinius, and Constantius II had appointed him Magister Peditum in Gaul. Sadly Silvanus seems to have had enemies, and an official named Dymanus (probably on the orders of someone else) forged documents about Sylvanus intending to claim the throne, and send them to Constantius II.
Constantius was extremely paranoid about usurpers (he'd murdered most of his relatives as a result). Even though there were many who stood up for Sylvanus, Constantius II would not allow him to prove loyalty or clear his name.
In order to avoid summary execution Sylvanus ended up having to declare himself emperor in any case. His attempt was unsuccessful and his reluctant revolt lasted only 28 days. He never got as far as the coin mint at Trier, so he minted no coins before his revolution failed.
In order to avoid summary execution Sylvanus ended up having to declare himself emperor in any case. His attempt was unsuccessful and his reluctant revolt lasted only 28 days. He never got as far as the coin mint at Trier, so he minted no coins before his revolution failed.
-Marcus Cassius Julianus
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