Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus Augustus[1]
Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus (died 270) was a short-livedRoman emperor. He took power after the death of his brother, EmperorClaudius Gothicus, in 270. After reigning for a few weeks Quintillus was overthrown byAurelian, who had been proclaimed rival emperor by thelegions he commanded. The ancient sources variously report him to have killed himself, to have fallen in battle against Aurelian, or to have been murdered by his own soldiers.
Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus' exact birthplace is unknown. AnIllyrian, he was likely born inPannonia Inferior, as is indicated by his coinage.[2] Originating from a low-born family, Quintillus came to prominence with the accession of his brotherClaudius Gothicus to the imperial throne in 268. Quintillus was possibly madeProcurator ofSardinia during his brother's reign.
Quintillus was declared emperor after Claudius died in 270.Eutropius reports Quintillus to have been elected by soldiers of theRoman army immediately following the death of his brother;[3] the choice was reportedly approved by theRoman Senate.Joannes Zonaras reports him elected by the Senate itself.[4] Records, however, agree that thelegions which had followed Claudius in campaigning along theDanube were either unaware or disapproving of Quintillus' elevation. They instead elevated their current leaderAurelian as emperor.[5]
The few records of Quintillus' reign are contradictory. It is variously reported to have lasted 17 days (Jerome,Eutropius andZonaras), 77 days (Filocalus), or "a few months" (Zosimus). Modern scholars believe "17" to be a misreading of a larger number, since Quintillus had time to produce an abundance of coins.[5][6] Records also disagree on the cause of his death. TheHistoria Augusta reports himmurdered by his own soldiers in reaction to his strictmilitary discipline.[7]Jerome says that he was slain atAquileia, without further specifics.[8] According to Joannes Zonaras, Quintillusopened his veins and bled himself to death;[4]John of Antioch concurs, adding that the suicide was assisted by aphysician.[5]Claudius Salmasius noted thatDexippus recorded the death without stating causes.[9] All records, however, agree in placing the death atAquileia. Quintillus was reportedly survived by his two sons.[10]
TheHistoria Augusta reports Claudius and Quintillus having another brother named Crispus and through him a niece,Claudia, who reportedly married Eutropius and was mother toConstantius Chlorus.[11] Some historians however suspect this account to be agenealogicalfabrication to flatterConstantine I.[5]
His reign was very short and he never managed to visit Rome as emperor. Surviving Roman records considered Quintillus a moderate and capable emperor.[3] He was seen as a champion of the Senate and thus compared to previous emperorsGalba andPertinax. All three were highly regarded by senatorial sources despite their failure to survive a full year of reign.[5] In his reign the priestly offices held by the emperor were separated and the image of the emperor aspontifex maximus was abandoned.[12]
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