Felicissimus

Felicissimus (lat. the happiest ) was the leader of a revolt in Rome against Emperor Aurelian.

Life

Felicissimus was originally an imperial minister of finance. In the course of Aurelian against corruption but was revealed that he had deliberately fake coins. He then instigated using the Münzfabrikanten to a revolt in the capital, responded to the Aurelian with the deployment of troops in the city. There was fierce fighting, and the military was only with difficulty from them emerged the victor. There were thousands of dead, and also in the Roman upper classes covered the events of their circles, Aurelian put to death several senators who presumably supported the uprising. Felicissimus - who himself was never (counter) Kaiser - died in battle with the imperial soldiers.

Although the date of the revolt with the annual 274 Aurelius Victor stated, but this seems unlikely: Aurelian was 274 at the height of his power, and there are several indications that the year 271 seems to be correct. So Zosimus mentioned riots at the beginning of the reign of Aurelian, in January 271, the Emperor had also at the Battle of Placentia suffered a crushing defeat against the Juthungen. It seems as if the mint in Rome has likely set around that time, because of the consequences of the uprising their work temporarily. To 274 a monetary reform was carried out by Aurelian.

Swell

• Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus 35.6
• Eutropius, Breviarium urbe condita from 9.14
• Historia Augusta, Aurelian 38.2 to 3