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This article includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (June 2008) |
| Claudius Tacitus | |
| Emperor of the Roman Empire | |
 Emperor Tacitus on a coin. The reverse celebrates his victory over the Eastern tribes (VICTORIA GOTTHI). |
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| Reign | September 25, 275 - June 276 |
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| Full name | Marcus Claudius Tacitus |
| Born | ca. 200 |
| Birthplace | Interamna |
| Died | June 276 |
| Place of death | Tyana |
| Predecessor | Aurelian |
| Successor | Florianus |
Marcus Claudius Tacitus (ca. 200 - June 276) was a Roman Emperor from September 25, 275, to June 276.
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Biography
He was born in Interamna (Terni), in Italia. He circulated copies of the historian Gaius Cornelius Tacitus' work, which was barely read at the time, and so we perhaps have him to thank for the partial survival of Tacitus' work; however, modern historiography[1] rejects his claimed descent from the historian as forgery. In the course of his long life he discharged the duties of various civil offices, including that of consul in 273, with universal respect.
Six months after the assassination of Aurelian, he was chosen by the Senate to succeed him, and the choice was cordially ratified by the army. His first action was to move against the barbarian tribes that had been gathered by Aurelian for his Eastern campaign, and which had plundered the Eastern Roman provinces after Aurelian had been murdered and the campaign cancelled. His half-brother, the Praetorian Prefect Florianus, and Tacitus himself won a victory against these tribes, among which Heruli, which granted the emperor the title Gothicus Maximus.
Tacitus probably died of fever (according to Aurelius Victor, Eutropius and the Historia Augusta) - though Zosimus claims he was assassinated - at Tyana in Cappadocia in June 276.
References
Primary sources
- Historia Augusta, Vita Taciti
- Eutropius, Breviarium ab urbe condita, ix. 16
- "…After him TACITUS succeeded to the throne; a man of excellent morals, and well qualified to govern the empire. He was unable, however, to show the world anything remarkable, being cut off by death in the sixth month of his reign..…"
- English version of Breviarium ab Urbe Condita
- Aurelius Victor, "Epitome de Caesaribus"
- English version of Epitome de Caesaribus
- "After him, Tacitus took power, a man of singular character, who died at Tarsus from a fever in the two hundredth day of his reign."
- Zosimus, "Historia Nova"
- Joannes Zonaras, "Compendium of History"
Secondary sources
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- Tacitus in De Imperatoribus Romanis, giving the modern view
External links
Media related to Marcus Claudius Tacitus at Wikimedia Commons.
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Aurelian |
Roman Emperor 275–276 |
Succeeded by Florianus |
