Claudius Silvanus
Silvanus († September 7 355 ) was 28 days in the Roman year 355 Gegenkaiser.
Life
Claudius (?) Silvanus was born in Gaul, the son of Bonitus, an officer of Frankish descent, who had served under Constantine. Silvanus served in the military, initially under the usurper Magnentius, then under Constantius II, to which he had moved shortly before the Battle of Mursa (351). Silvanus eventually rose ( still quite young ) to Heermeister on. Constantius II entrusted him to 352/353 with the task of pushing back to Gaul incident Germanic tribes back behind the Rhine frontier.
Apparently, Silvanus, however, had made several enemies at the imperial court. Through an intrigue succeeded courtiers, Constantius II to convince them that Silvanus was planning a takeover of the imperial power. The emperor ordered back Silvanus, but the suspected wrongly Silvanus could be - probably for fear of retaliation Constantius ' - well actually on August 11, 355 in Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) proclaimed Emperor. Maybe Silvanus was also not very uncommon forced to this action in late antiquity by his own soldiers. He is said to have thought of escape to the USD, of which, however, dissuaded him a confidant.
Constantius, who was at Mediolanum ( Milan ), had ironically previously commissioned a study which Silvanus, had also relieved for several Frankish officers inserting at the court. Challenged by the open usurpation of Silvanus, Constantius took but now measures. He ordered Silvanus, to come to him, and appointed Ursicinus his successor as military chief. In the letter, which should deliver Ursicinus to Silvanus, however, was not mentioned that Constantius already knew about the usurpation so that Silvanus initially felt sure. Ursicinus operation for the time being Silvanus ' murder, which was then killed only 28 days after his elevation of corrupt soldiers. Silvanus vainly sought protection in a meeting room of the Christian community, the first mentioned in writing Christian worship space in Cologne.
In response to the usurpation of Silvanus Constantius appointed his cousin Julian on November 6, 355 for Caesar, and sent him to maintain the imperial presence in Gaul.
About the usurpation of Silvanus reported in detail Ammianus Marcellinus, who lived as a witness and companion of Ursicinus some of the events in Cologne. A short biography can be found, for example, in Aurelius Victor.