<="" font="" face="Times New Roman"> Probus - Roman Emperor : 276-282  A.D.
Bronze Antoninianus 21mm (3.49 grams) Siscia mint,   1st officina. 5th emission, 278 A.D.
Reference: RIC V 612; Alföldi, Siscia V 44.5; Pink VI/1  p. 51 (variant for all, no star)
IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust  right.
P M TR P COS II P P Exe: XXIP, Lion standing left; head  of ox to lower left; star above.

* Numismatic Note: The lion and the ox depicted on this  coin are likely symbols of specific Roman legions, and  therefore this coin could have either honored those  legions, or possibly even legionary coinage.

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Probus (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Probus  Augustus; c. 19 August 232 –  September/October 282), was Roman Emperor from 276  to 282.

During his reign, the Rhine and Danube frontier was  strengthened after successful wars against several Germanic tribes such as  the Goths , Alamanni , Longiones , Franks , Burgundians , and Vandals . The Agri Decumates and much  of the Limes Germanicus in Germania Superior were  officially abandoned during his reign, with the Romans  withdrawing to the Rhine and Danube rivers.

Life

Born in 232 in Sirmium (modern day Sremska Mitrovica ), Pannonia Inferior , the  son of Dalmatius, Probus entered the army around 250  upon reaching adulthood. Appointed as a military tribune by the  emperor Valerian , he later  distinguished himself under the emperors Aurelian and Tacitus . He was  appointed governor of the East by Tacitus, whose death  in 276 prompted Probus' soldiers to proclaim him  emperor.

Florianus , the  half-brother of Tacitus, was also proclaimed successor  by his soldiers, but he was killed after an indecisive  campaign.^[9]  Probus travelled west, defeating the Goths along the  lower Danube in 277, and acquiring the title of Gothicus. His position as emperor was ratified by  the Senate around this  time.

As Emperor

In 278, Probus campaigned successfully in Gaul against the Alamanni and Longiones ; both tribes  had advanced through the Neckar valley and  across the Rhine into Roman territory. Meanwhile, his  generals defeated the Franks and these  operations were directed to clearing Gaul of Germanic  invaders (Franks  and Burgundians ), allowing  Probus to adopt the titles of Gothicus Maximus  and Germanicus Maximus.

One of his principles was never to allow the soldiers  to be idle, and to employ them in time of peace on  useful works, such as the planting of vineyards in Gaul,  Pannonia and other districts, in order to restart the  economy in these devastated lands.^[14]  Of a greater and more lasting significance, Probus began  the strategy of settling the Germanic tribes in the  devastated provinces of the empire.

Antoninianus   of Probus minted in 280. Depicts the solar  divinity Sol Invictus   riding a quadriga .  Probus issued many different coins during  his six years of rule.

In 279–280, Probus was, according to Zosimus , in Raetia , Illyricum and Lycia , where he fought  the Vandals . In the same  years, Probus' generals defeated the Blemmyes in Egypt . Probus then  ordered the reconstruction of bridges and canals along  the Nile, where the production of grain for the Empire  was centered.

In 280–281, Probus put down three usurpers, Julius Saturninus , Proculus and Bonosus . The extent of  these revolts is not clear, but there are clues that  they were not just local problems. In 281, the emperor  was in Rome, where he celebrated his triumph .

Probus was eager to start his eastern campaign,  delayed by the revolts in the west. He left Rome in 282,  travelling first towards Sirmium, his birth city. About  Probus' death different accounts exist. According to John Zonaras , the  commander of the Praetorian Guard Marcus Aurelius Carus   had been proclaimed, more or less unwillingly, emperor  by his troops.

Assassination (282)

Probus sent some troops against the new usurper, but  when those troops changed sides and supported Carus,  Probus' remaining soldiers assassinated him at Sirmium  (September/October 282). According to other sources,  however, Probus was killed by disgruntled soldiers, who  rebelled against his orders to be employed for civic  purposes, like draining marshes.  Carus was proclaimed emperor after Probus' death and  avenged the murder of his predecessor.