Pacatian – 248 AD

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Pacatian

Circa 248-249AD

Usurper of Upper Moesia

Titus Claudius Marinus Pacatianus was most likely a member of the senatorial class and the commander stationed on the Danube frontier in Pannonia and Moesia. Pacatian raised a revolt during the unpopular later years of the reign of Philip I. Pacatian was able to fan the flames of rebellion. Still, he was unable to win the support of the legions indeed. After proclaiming himself emperor, he managed to control Upper Moesia for a very brief period.

The revolt, however, lacked a broader range of support for Pacatian as emperor, so he was murdered by his own troops. However, the revolt resulted in Philip’s appointment of Trajan Decius as governor of Moesia and Pannonia. The resentment that fostered the rebellion had not died with Pacatian. In the end, Decius was convinced by the legions in the region to claim the position of emperor and march on Rome. Thus, the rebellion was successful in the long term. Decius confronted Philip in Macedonia and defeated him, becoming the first Balkin Emperor of Rome.