PUPENIUS (M. Clodius Pupienus), ROMAN EMPEROR. – Of his life prior to his election as emperor, it is known that he was praetor, suffect consul, ordinary consul (236), and prefect of Rome. After the death of the two Gordians, he was elected emperor by the Senate together with Balbinus (238).
He immediately set out to march against Maximinus, and after killing him at Aquileia (March 238), he returned to Rome where, however, having come into conflict with his colleague, he was killed by the Praetorians who had elected Gordian III (July 238). During his brief reign, the Christians were not molested; the abhorrence provoked by Maximinus’s cruel policy did not recommend following his example.
BIBL.: E. Stein, Clodius, in Pauly-Wissowa, IV, 88-98; A. Calderini, I Severi. La crisi dell’Impero nel III sec., Bologna (1949), pp. 135 ff. and passim.