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| Jotapian | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usurper of theRoman Empire | |||||||||
 Antoninianus of Iotapian. The obverse inscription readsimcmfr iotapianusav. | |||||||||
| Reign | c. 249 (againstPhilip the Arab) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Philip the Arab | ||||||||
| Successor | Philip the Arab | ||||||||
| Born | Near East | ||||||||
| Died | c. 249 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Jotapian (/dʒəˈteɪpiən/) orIotapian (Latin:M(arcus) F(ulvius) Ru(fus) Iotapianus; diedc. 249) was anusurper in the eastern provinces of theRoman Empire during the reign of EmperorPhilip the Arab, around 249. Jotapian is known from his rare coins and from accounts inAurelius Victor (Caesares xxix.2),Zosimus (i.20.2 and i.21.2), andPolemius Silvius (Laterculus).
Jotapian was a member of theNear East indigenous aristocracy. His name is similar to those of QueenJulia Iotapa and her daughter, princessJulia Iotapa ofCommagene, so he may have been a member of the royal family of Commagene, which had lost its power in favour of the Romans under EmperorVespasian in 72.[2]
Aurelius Victor reports that Jotapian claimed descendance from an Alexander. According to some scholars, this refers toSeverus Alexander, while other scholars note that KingAntiochus I Theos of Commagene claimed to be descended fromMacedonian KingAlexander the Great. He could be a possible descendant ofGaius Julius Agrippa or his brotherGaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus or his sisterJulia Iotapa.[2]
Jotapian led a rebellion started inSyria, towards the end of Philip's rule, against the increase in taxation ordered by therector OrientisPriscus, Philip's brother.[2] Polemius Silvius described Iotapian as a tyrant inCappadocia.[3] Jotapian madeAntioch his capital,[citation needed] but the rebellion came to an end and Jotapian was killed by his own soldiers, possibly during EmperorDecius' rule.[2]
Coins issued by Jotapian had been found.[2] All of them areantoniniani, all of them show a crude design, and all of them have aVICTORIA AVG reverse, possibly celebrating a victory against Philip's troops or rather "the power of the Emperor to conquer".[2] It has been suggested that Jotapian also issuedAurei, none of which are known to have survived.[citation needed]
The coins are the only source for his names,M. F. RV., which has been suggested to be Marcus Fulvius Rufus byThéodore Edme Mionnet.[1] Furthermore, their style suggest that the revolt was short and spread over a small territory, since Jotapian controlled no major mint.[citation needed]