A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

who is included by Trebellius Pollio in his list of the thirty tyrants [see AUREOLUS], was the third of

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the usurpers who in succession ruled Gaul while it was dismembered from the empire during the reign of the imbecile son of Valerian. Victorinus, however, had previously been assumed as a colleague by Postumus to whom he afforded important aid in the war against Gallienus, and after the destruction of Gallienus alone enjoyed the sovereignty. He is said to have possessed many of the highest qualities both of a general and a statesman, but was unhappily a slave to his passions, which eventually proved his ruin, for he was assassinated at Agrippina by one of his own officers whose honour he had wounded. This event seems to have taken place in A. D. 268 after he had reigned for some-what more than a year. (Trebell. Pollio, Trig. Tyrann. v.; Aurel. Vict. de Caes. xxxiii.; Eutrop. 9.7; it would be a vain task however to attempt to reconcile these authorities with each other.)