Français – عربي – ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ – English
In the Third Century, the Roman Empire entered the longest period of instability in its history: an era known as the Military Anarchy, marked by conflicts between rival military officers vying for power. In only a few decades, about thirty contenders for the imperial throne rose and fell. In 240, while the reigning Emperor Gordian III was only 15 years old, the African proconsul Sabinianus revolted against him and proclaimed himself Emperor. In this article, we will discover this little-known African claimant to the Imperial throne.
Context
In 238, after a popular uprising in North Africa, Gordian, the proconsul of Africa, was proclaimed Emperor in Carthage, together with his son Gordian II. The fallen Emperor Maximinus Thrax made an alliance with Capelianus, the governor of Numidia, to reconquer his throne. The troops of Capelianus defeated those of Gordian close to Carthage. Gordian II was killed in battle and his father committed suicide. After this, the Roman Senate called on Gordian’s grandson to become the new Emperor, under the name Gordian III.
The rebellion of Sabinianus
Sabinianus, who succeeded Gordian as proconsul of Africa, was from an important Roman African family: he was from the city of Acholla (Ras Botria, to the North of Sfax). The ruins of Acholla, were Sabinianus was born, can be seen on the cover picture of this article.
In 240, Sabinianus proclaimed himself Emperor instead of Gordian III. He was based in Carthage and controlled the province of Africa, but he was never recognized anywhere else in the Empire. His rebellion would be short-lived: he was quickly eliminated by those loyal to Gordian III.
