Volusianus
Gaius Vibius Volusianus (died August 253) was a Roman emperor from 251 to 253, ruling with his father Trebonianus Gallus.
| Volusianus | |||||||||
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Possible bust of Volusianus at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours. | |||||||||
| Roman emperor | |||||||||
| Reign | c. August 251 – August 253 (with Trebonianus Gallus) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Decius and Herennius Etruscus | ||||||||
| Successor | Aemilianus | ||||||||
| Died | August 253 Interamna | ||||||||
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| Father | Trebonianus Gallus | ||||||||
| Mother | Afinia Gemina Baebiana | ||||||||
After Emperor Decius and his son and co-ruler Herennius Etruscus died in battle in June 251, Trebonianus Gallus was elected emperor in the field by the legion. Gallus raised Hostilian, the younger son of Decius, to augustus (co-emperor) and elevated Volusianus to caesar. After the death of Hostilian in July or August 251, Volusianus was raised to augustus. The short reign of Gallus and Volusianus was notable for the outbreak of a plague, which is said by some to be the reason for Hostilian's death, and for hostilities with the Sasanian Empire and the Goths. Volusianus and his father were killed in August 253 by their own soldiers, who were terrified of the forces of the usurper Aemilian which were marching towards Rome.