Jotapian
Jotapian | |||||||||
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Usurper of the Roman Empire | |||||||||
Jotapian coin. His coins are the only source for his names, M. F. RV., which could be expanded as Marcus Fulvius Rufus. | |||||||||
Reign | c. 249 (against Philip the Arab) | ||||||||
Predecessor | Philip the Arab | ||||||||
Successor | Philip the Arab | ||||||||
Born | Near East | ||||||||
Died | c. 249 | ||||||||
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- v
- t
- e
- Death of Alexander Severus (235)
- Harzhorn (c. 235)
- Usurpation of Magnus (c. 235)
- Usurpation of Quartinus (235)
Year of the Six Emperors (238)
- Revolt of Gordian I & Gordian II (238)
- Battle of Carthage (238)
- Siege of Aquileia (238)
- Reign of Pupienus & Balbinus (238)
- Invasion of the Carpi (238–239)
Reign of Gordian III (238–244)
Reign of Philip the Arab (244–249)
- Invasion of the Carpi (245–247)
- Secular Games of 248 (248)
- Usurpation of Sponsianus (240s)
- Usurpation of Pacatianus (248)
- Usurpation of Jotapianus (249)
- Usurpation of Silbannacus (249 or 253)
- Decius' Rebellion (249)
Verona and death of Philip & Philip II (249)
Reign of Decius (249–251)
- Plague of Cyprian (250–270)
- Decian persecution (250–251)
- Gothic invasion of Cniva (250–251)
- Carpi invasion of Dacia (250)
- Nicopolis ad Istrum (250)
- Beroe (250)
- Philippopolis (250)
- Usurpation of Julius Priscus (251)
- Abritus and death of Decius and Etruscus (251)
Reign of Trebonianus Gallus (251–253)
- Death of Hostilian (251)
- Mariades' Revolt (252)
- Nisibis (252)
- Barbalissos (253)
- Interamna Nahars (c 253)
Reign of Aemilianus (253)
- Antioch (253)
Reign of Valerian and Gallienus (253–260)
- Thessalonica (254)
- Thermopylae (254)
- Dura-Europos (256)
- Gothic invasion (256–257)
- Invasion of Shapur (258)
- Invasion of the Alemanni (258–260 approx)
- Mediolanum (259)
- Scythian invasion (259–260)
- Edessa (260)
Reign of Gallienus (260–268)
- Caesarea (260)
- Usurpation of Ingenuus (260)
- Usurpation of Regalianus (260)
- Usurpation of Macrianus Major (c. 259–261)
- Gallic Empire (260–274)
- Death of Saloninus (260)
- Roxolani Invasion of Pannonia (260)
- Campaigns of Odaenathus (260–267)
- Usurpation of Quietus (261)
- Usurpation of Balista (261)
- Usurpation of Valens Thessalonicus (261)
- Usurpation of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi (261)
- Usurpation of Macrianus Minor (261)
- Pannonian Rebellion (261)
- Usurpation of Mussius Aemilianus (261–262)
- Postumus' Campaign against the Franks (262)
- Postumus' Campaign against the Alamanni (263)
- Ctesiphon (263)
- Scythian Invasion (265–266)
- Assassination of Odaenathus (267)
- Usurpation of Maeonius (266–267)
- Scythian Invasion (267–269)
- Heruli Raids (267)
- Athens (267)
- Usurpation of Acilius Aureolus (268)
Reign of Claudius Gothicus (268–270)
- Usurpation of Laelianus (269)
- Reign of Marcus Aurelius Marius (269)
- Augustodunum Haeduorum
- Naissus (268/269)
- Lake Benacus (268 or 269)
- Capture of Athens (269)
- Palmyrene Empire (270–273)
- Bostra (270)
- Palmyrene invasion of Egypt (270)
- Vandal Invasion (270)
Reign of Aurelian (270–275)
- Usurpation of Victorinus Junior (271)
- Junthungi Invasion (271)
- Domitian II (271)
- Tetricus I & Tetricus II (271–274)
- Rebellion of Felicissimus (270s)
- Placentia (271)
- Fano (271)
- Pavia (271)
- Tyana (272)
- Immae (272)
- Emesa (272)
- Razing of Palmyra (273)
- Usurpation of Faustinus (c. 273)
- Châlons (274)
Reign of Tacitus (275-276)
- Gothic Invasion (276-277)
Reign of Probus (276-282)
- Vandal Invasion (276-278)
- Sarmatian Invasion (278)
- Usurpation of Bonosus & Proculus (280)
- Usurpation of Julius Saturninus (280)
Reign of Carus (282-283)
- Carus' invasion of the Sasanian Empire (283)
Reign of Carinus (283-285)
- Usurpation of Julian of Pannonia (284-285)
- Margum (285)
Jotapian (/dʒɔːteɪpiən/; Latin: Marcus F. Ru. Jotapianus; died c. 249) was a usurper in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Philip the Arab, around 249. Jotapian is known from his rare coins and from accounts in Aurelius Victor (Caesares xxix.2), Zosimus (i.20.2 and i.21.2), and Polemius Silvius (Laterculus).
Life
Origins
Jotapian was a member of the Near East indigenous aristocracy. His name is similar to those of Queen Julia Iotapa and her daughter, princess Julia Jotapa of Commagene, so he could have been a member of the Royal Family of Commagene, which had lost its power in favour of the Romans under Emperor Vespasian in 72.
Aurelius Victor reports that Jotapian claimed descendance from an Alexander. According to some scholars, he referred to Alexander Severus, while other scholars note that King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene claimed descendance from Greek King Alexander the Great. He could be a possible descendant of Gaius Julius Agrippa or his brother Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus or his sister Julia Iotapa.
Revolt and death
Jotapian led a rebellion started in Syria, towards the end of Philip's rule, against the increase in taxation ordered by the rector Orientis Priscus, Philip's brother. It is possible that Philip somehow favoured his Arabia over the other Eastern provinces, since his rule was not quietly accepted by the local population. Jotapian made Antioch his capital, but the rebellion came to an end and Jotapian was killed by his own soldiers, possibly during Emperor Decius' rule.
Coinage
Coins issued by Jotapian had been found. All of them are antoniniani, all of them show a crude design, and all of them have a VICTORIA AVG reverse, celebrating a victory of the rebels over Philip troops or rather "the power of the Emperor to conquer" (Roman Imperial Coins, 4.3). It has been suggested that Jotapian also issued Aurei, none of which are known to have survived.
The coins are the only source for his names, M. F. RV., which could be expanded as Marcus Fulvius Rufus. Furthermore, their style suggest that the revolt was short and spread over a small territory, since Jotapian controlled no major mint.
References
- Meckler, Michael and Christian Körner, "Jotapianus", s.v. "Philip the Arab and Rival Claimants of the later 240s", in DIR (1999).