Herennius Etruscus

Sestertius of Herennius Etruscus as Caesar with a reference to Pietas through typical cult instruments.

Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius (* around 227 , † June 251 with Abrittus ) was Roman Emperor in the last year of his life in a joint government with his father Decius . The future emperor Hostilian was his younger brother.

Herennius was born in Pannonia , one of the stations in his father's military career. His mother was Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla , an Etruscan noblewoman from a senatorial family . Herennius stayed close to his father and also accompanied him as a military tribune when Decius was commissioned by Philip Arabs to suppress the revolt of Pacatianus on the Danube border . Decius was proclaimed emperor by his troops in Pannonia, marched to Italy and defeated Philip near Verona , whereupon he was able to assert himself as the new ruler. In Rome, Herennius and Hostilian received the title of Caesar in the spring or summer of 250 .

In the same year Gothic groups crossed the Danube and raided the provinces of Moesia and Dacia . In 251 Decius elevated his older son to Augustus , that is, to a nominally equal co-emperor. In that year Herennius also held the office of ordinary consul . The two emperors set out on a campaign against Kniva , king of the Goths , in order to punish him for his attack. Hostilian stayed in Rome with his mother.

Aureus of Herennius Etruscus

Kniva and his men withdrew to their land with their booty when they encountered the Roman army. In an elaborate military consideration, Kniva divided his army into smaller and more agile units and began to push the Romans back into a swampland. In the first half of June 251, the armies met at the Battle of Abrittus . Herennius fell, struck down by an enemy arrow. Decius survived the first meeting, but was slain with the rest of the army before the end of the day. Herennius and Decius were the first two emperors to be killed in battle by a foreign army.

After the news of the downfall of the two emperors had reached the capital, father and son were raised to the gods ( Divus ) by decision of the Senate . The army then proclaimed Trebonianus Gallus emperor, while in Rome Hostilian asserted his claim to the imperial dignity.

Web links

Commons : Herennius Etruscus  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Christopher J. Fuhrmann: Short biography (English) at De Imperatoribus Romanis (with references).

predecessor	Office	successor
Decius	Roman emperor 250–251	Hostilian