The lives of the Roman emperors from Domitian, where Suetonius ends, to Constantine the Great containing those of Nerva and Trajan from Dion Cassius : a translation of the six writers of the Augustéan history and those of Dioclesian and his associates from Eusebius and others by John Bernard ...

FIRMUS.

IT is very seldom I know, that we find, that any particular Account is given of such Petit Emperors, as Usurping that Name, have set up themselves in vain against the Received Prince, in some parts or other of the Roman Empire. The most that is done is to touch lightly upon them in a word, en Passant, after the manner with which Suetonius Tran∣quillus contents himself, who is a very Correct and very Candid Writer, in relation to Anto∣nius and Vindex. Nor do I admire at this in such an Historian as Suetonius, to whom it was familiar, to love Brevity. But why Marius Maximus, who is the most Verbose of all Men, and who hath not forborn to embarass himself with tedious Accounts of things, and to de∣scend even to Fictions and Fables, to fill up his History; why he hath not been more par∣ticular than he is, in his Descriptions of Avidius Cassius, Claudius Albinus, and Pescennius Niger, who pretended to the Empire, the first against the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, the others a∣gainst Septimius Severus, I do not understand? On the contrary, Trebellius Pollio hath thought fit to be so diligent and so careful in his Col∣lections

as to those Princes, whether Good or Bad, undertaken by him, that he hath laid to∣gether a separate History of Thirty Pretenders to the Empire, who set up themselves in, or much about the Times of the Emperors Gal∣lienus and Valerian. And in imitation of his Example, since I have already passed through the Trouble of the Reigns of Aurelian, Tacitus, Florianus, and that great and singular Prince Probus, I am very willing before I proceed to those of Carus, Numerian, and Carinus, who succeeded the next to the Empire, not to omit to say something of Firmus, Saturninus, Procu∣lus, and Bonosus, who set up themselves in the time of the Emperors Probus and Aurelian.

You know, my dear Bassus, what a Dispute we lately had with one, who is a great lover of History, that is, M. Fonteius; when he said, that Firmus, who possessed himself of Aegypt in the time of Aurelian, was a Robber and not a Prince. Against which, I, together with me Rufus Celsus, Cejonius Julianus, Fabius Sosianus, and Severus Archontius, affirmed, that Firmus did both actually wear the Purple, as a Prince, and had a Coin stamped in his Name, whereof some Pieces were produced, and also by the Grecian and the Aegyptian Writings it appears, that in the Edicts which he published, he is remarked by the Title of Emperor. The only Reason which Fonteius had to offer against this, was; That Aurelian did not say in his Edict, speaking of Firmus, that he had killed a Tyrant or a Pseudo Emperor, but that he had deliver'd the State of a Robber. As if it could

be expected, that so Renowned a Prince as Au∣relian should have given him any better Name. Or, as if all great Princes did not call those Robbers, who Invade their Crowns, and are beaten besides in the Attempt. Not but that, I remember very well, that in the Life of Aurelian, I have represented Firmus, as one, who did not pretend to the Purple, as an Emperor. For I must confess, that when I writ that, it was, be∣cause I had not then the knowledge of all the things concerning him, which I have attained to since. But to be short;

Firmus was a Native of the City of Seleucia. Several Grecian Writers do give him to ano∣ther place indeed; but that is a mistake, into which they are led by this, that there are three at the same time of the same Name of Firmus; whereof one was the Governour of Aegypt; the other a Proconsul and a General on the Frontiers of Africa: But this Firmus was a Friend and an Associate of the Lady Zenobia; for whom he, with the assistance of the Ae∣gyptians, took the City of Alexandria, and was at length happily defeated by Aurelian, and the wonted bravery of that Prince.

There are many things reported of the Riches of this Firmus. It is said, that he had the Walls of his House Wainscoted with Squares of Glass, fastned by Bitumen, and other Medicaments. He was the Master of so much of the Manu∣facture of Paper, that he often publickly said, he could maintain an entire Army out of only Paper and Glue. He entertained a great Friend∣ship with the Blemmyae and the Saracens. He

sent Ships of Merchandize oftentimes into India. He had two Elephant's Teeth, ten Foot long; with which, and two others added to them, Aurelian who took them, designed to make a Chair, wherein to place a Statue of Jupiter in Gold, covered with Jewels and a Robe of State, and illustrated with Inscriptions: Which Statue was to be set up in the Temple of the Sun, and to be entitled, Jupiter the giver of Good Counsel. But Carinus afterwards posses∣sing himself of those Teeth, made a Present of them to a certain Lady, who used them for the Feet of a Bed. I say no more, because we of this Age know her; and for Posterity, it it signifies nothing. But thus that Indian Rarity, which was Consecrated to the most Excellent and Mighty Jupiter, was by a lewd Prince made at once the Purchase of a Mistress, and the Scene of the Exercise of her too.

Firmus was of a large Stature, with great and prominent Eyes, frizled Hair, Scars and Wounds on his Face, a blackish Visage, the rest of his Body fair enough, but Hairy and Bristly; so that a great many called him a Cy∣clops. He eat a vast deal of Flesh; some say, a whole Ostrich in a day. He drunk not much Wine, but very much Water; and was a Man of a strong Brain and so robust Nerves, that one might allow him to be stronger than the Gladiator Tritannus in Varro. For he would bear a Smith's Anvil, with Persons with all their force knocking upon it, upon his Breast, as he lay bent in his Body backwards, and only rest∣ing upon his Hands and Feet, without touching

the ground with his Back. There was once a dispute betwixt him and some of the Officers of Aurelian about Drinking. Burburus, a most noted Drinker, and an old Soldier, challenged him to Drink with him. Firmus drank up two large Vessels full of Wine, and remained all the time after sober. Says Burburus to him, Why have you not drank up the very Grounds too? You silly Creature, answer'd Firmus, no body drinks Earth.

This Firmus therefore assumed to himself the Quality of an Emperor, in opposition to Au∣relian; and maintained the Parts which as yet were remaining to Zenobia in the East. Aurelian beat him, in his return from Heren in Mesopo∣tamia. Some say, Firmus afterwards Hanged himself. But this is disproved by the Edict of Aurelian, which he sent to Rome, together with the Notice of his Victory, which was thus.

The Emperor Aurelian to his most dearly beloved People of Rome, sendeth Greeting.

WE have reduced all the Parts of the Ro∣man World whatever, unto a peaceable subjection to us. Firmus the Aegyptian Robber, who was in motion with a Company of Barbarians, and was gathering up the reliques of the Forces of Zenobia, in short, we have defeated, taken him, and killed him. There is nothing more for you, my Romans, now to be afraid of. The Tri∣bute

of Aegypt, which that wicked Robber had suspended, will now come entire to you. Be you at Concord with the Senate, and in good Amity with the Gentry, and the Soldiers of the Guards. I will take care, that nothing shall hurt you. Enter∣tain your selves at the Pastimes and the Shews of the Cirque. Follow your Pleasures, whilst we are taken up with the Necessities of the State. Where∣fore, my most Excellent Romans, and so he goe•• on with his Edict.

This, Sir, is what you may know, we have collected, that is worthy of Remembrance, concerning Firmus. If you would desire to un∣derstand further all the light and frivolou•• things which Aurelius Festivus, a Servant of the Emperor Aurelian, hath written of him, I must refer you to read that Author your self. I come next to Saturninus, who set up for the Empire against Probus, in the Parts of the East.

Notes

• Vast Wealth of Fir∣mus.
• His Perso∣nage.
• His De∣feat and Death.