Nepotianus
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| Nepotianus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Usurper of the Roman Empire | ||
 |
||
| Nepotianus on a coin bearing his claimed title of Augustus | ||
| Reign | 3 - 30 June 350 (in competition with Magnentius) | |
| Full name | Flavius Iulius Popilius Nepotianus Constantinus | |
| Died | 30 June 350 | |
| Rome | ||
| Dynasty | Constantinian | |
| Father | Eutropia | |
| Mother | Virius Nepotianus | |
Flavius Iulius Popilius Nepotianus Constantinus (d. 30 June 350) was a member of the Constantinian dynasty, and short-lived usurper of the Roman Empire.
He ruled on the city of Rome for twenty-eight days, before being killed by usurper Magnentius' general Marcellinus.
Nepotianus was the son of Eutropia, half-sister of Emperor Constantine I, and of Virius Nepotianus. On his mother's part, he was grandson of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora.
After the revolt of Magnentius, Nepotianus proclaimed himself emperor and entered Rome with a band of gladiators on 3 June 350, which caused the Praefectus urbi Titianus (or Anicius, or Anicetus), allied to Magnentius, to flee, after being defeated at the head of an undisciplined force of Roman citizens.
Magnentius quickly dealt with the situation by sending his trusted magister officiorum Marcellinus to Rome. Nepotianus was killed in the resulting struggle (30 June 350), his head put on a lance and brought around the city (Eutropius). In the following days, Eutropia was killed too, within the persecution of the supporters of Nepotianus, most of whom were senators.
[edit] References
- DiMaio, Michael, "Nepotian (350 A.D.)", DIR
- Aurelius Victor De Caesaribus 42.6, Epitome 42.3
- Eutropius x.11
- Zosimus, ii.59
