'Titus Fulvius Iunius Quietus' (d.
261) was a
Roman usurper against
Roman Emperor Gallienus.
Quietus was the son of
Fulvius Macrianus and a noblewoman, possibly named Iunia. According to ''
Historia Augusta'', he was a military
tribune under
Valerian, but this information is challenged by historians.
He gained the imperial office with his brother
Macrianus Minor, after the death of Emperor Valerian in the Sassanid campaign of
260. With the army deep in the enemy territory, the soldiers elected the two emperors. The support of his father, controller of the imperial treasure, and the influence of
Balista,
Praetorian prefect of the late Emperor Valerian, proved instrumental in his promotion.
Quietus and Macrianus, elected
consuls, had to face the lawful Emperor
Gallienus, at the time in the West. Quietus and Ballista stayed in the eastern provinces, while his brother and father marched their army to Europe to seize control of the
Roman Empire. After the defeat of his brother and father in
Thrace in 261, Quietus lost the control of the provinces in favour of
Odaenathus of
Palmyra. Forced to flee to the city of
Emesa, he was killed by its inhabitants, possibily instigated by Ballista (
Zonaras xii.24).
References
★
Körner, Christian, "Usurpers in the east: The Macriani and Ballista", s.v. "Usurpers under Gallienus", ''De Imperatoribus Romanis''
1. The coinage of Quietus and of his brother and co-emperor Macrianus Minor celebrated the army, the confidence in victory, and the foreseen arrival of happy times. All of these themes were very important in a time of emergency, when the Roman Empire had lost its Emperor in battle against the Sassanid Empire, and the army was deep in enemy territory.
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