Gallus, Gaius Vibius, Roman Emperor

GALLUS, Gaius Vibius (Imp. C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus), Roman Emperor. - Born at Perugia around 207, died at Terni in 253. He belonged to the Senate and in 250 was governor of Moesia, commander of the legions during the war against the Goths. On the death of Decius he was acclaimed emperor (251); he hastened to sign peace, leaving the Goths the booty already taken and the prisoners, and came to Rome to obtain from the Senate the approval of his appointment. To silence suspicions of his treason he adopted Decius's second son, Hostilian.

In 253 the Goths invaded Pannonia; the legate of the province, Aemilianus, defeated them and was acclaimed emperor. G. marched against him, but at Terni he was killed by his own soldiers together with his son Volusian. Shortly afterwards Aemilianus too was killed and the Empire passed to Valerian, who had been acclaimed emperor by the soldiers of Gaul.

Towards the Christians G. showed himself at first tolerant, but the plague that broke out in 252 gave rise to a persecution. Indeed, propitiatory sacrifices were ordered throughout the Empire (St. Cyprian, Epist., 59). The Christians naturally abstained from taking part in them, and their absence aroused the hatred of the pagans, who rioted everywhere against them. An edict was then promulgated by which the heads of the churches, bishops, priests and deacons were condemned to exile (Eusebius, Hist. eccl., VII, 10; St. Cyprian, Epist., 61). The most illustrious victim was Pope Cornelius, arrested in June 252 and sent to Centumcellae (Civitavecchia), where he died in May-June 253 (id., Epist., 60). Lucius was elected to succeed him, but he too was exiled. It does not appear, however, that the persecution claimed any victims, because of the subsequent death of G., which prevented the application of the edict.

Agostino Amore