#Claudius Gothicus

[twofielder]

Coin of the Day #71 (7/14/2024)

Posting early today bc I’m stuck waiting at the airport…

Roman Empire

BI Antoninianus - 21mm 2.50g

Claudius II 268-270 AD

Siscia Mint

Obverse IMP CLAVDIVS AVG

Bust of Claudius II right, radiate, cuirassed

Reverse VBERITAS AVG

Uberitas standing left, holding grapes and cornucopiae, T left

RIC V 193

[miniwritesworld]

Valentine’s Day: Holiday Of Love, Affection & Selflessness! Fascinating History & Fun Ideas!

Origin & History Of Valentine’s Day! Top Fun Things To Do For Valentine’s Day! Fun Facts of Valentine’s Day That Will Surprise You!

Valentine’s Day! Everyone has a different perspective on this day. Some look at it with lots of “hearts”💕 in their eyes. And some look at it as a marketing technique 💸. Some wait for this day, and some lonely hearts get lonelier. Different people look at this day differently. But what exactly is the reason for the importance of this day? Why does this day exist? Why does even history have some…

[whencyclopedia]

Postumus

Postumus was Roman emperor from 260 to 269 CE. Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus was a trusted military commander of Emperor Gallienus (253-268 CE) and governor or Germania Superior and Inferior (Upper and Lower Germany). After the death of his father Valerian in 260 CE, Gallienus left him in charge of military operations in the west. It was a mistake the inexperienced and trustworthy emperor would soon regret, for the commander's own troops would take advantage of Gallienus's absence to declare Postumus emperor. It was a move that allowed him to establish himself as the ruler of the Gallic Empire, which included Gaul, Spain, and eventually Britain.

Rise to Power

Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus was an opportunist. While fighting the Persian King Shapur in the east, Emperor Valerian has been captured while attempting to negotiate peace and eventually died while in captivity, even suffering the humiliation as serving as the king's footstool. His unexpected death led to a crisis in the empire, for many inside and outside of Rome did not believe his co-emperor and son Gallienus was capable of managing the vast empire. Although he struggled to maintain his right to the throne and restore order, there was resistance.

From 235 to 285 CE, there were at least fifty claimants to the throne, and only one would die of natural causes, Claudius Gothicus. The Pax Romana, initiated by Augustus, was long over. In 260 CE Postumus would not be the only one to oppose the recognized emperor. Much of the resistance to Gallienus was in the east. For the next two years, there were at least seven pretenders to the purple. First, like so often before, after a successful victory, a commander would be declared emperor by his own troops. This time is was Ingenuus. Unfortunately, he would neither be recognized in Rome nor even step foot in the city; he was defeated by the Roman commander Aureolus at Mursa. While some speculate he was killed by his devoted troops as he fled the battle scene, others believe he committed suicide to avoid capture.

Ingenuus' once dedicated army quickly switched their allegiance to Regalianus, the governor of Upper Pannonia. Again, this supposed reign was short-lived. He was overcome by Gallienus, and like so many others, allegedly killed by those who had initially supported him. With the urging of their father, two more emerged to claim the throne, the brothers Macrianus and Quietus. In 261 CE Macrianus and his army advanced into the Balkans only to meet Roman forces and be severely defeated. Quietus, who had remained in Syria, was routed at Emesa where the townspeople turned on him and put the would-be emperor to death.

Continue reading...

[charlesoberonn]

List of Roman Emperors and how many future emperors were born during their reign

"?" is for emperors whose birthdate is unclear, they'd be listed under every possible option

Emperors with no known birthdate won't be counted towards any reign

A lot of the reigns overlap (especially after the Empire is divided between east and west) so some emperors are born during the reign of several previous emperors

Republican Era: 2. Augustus, Tiberius

Agustus (40 years): 5. Caligula, Claudius, Galba, Vitellius, Vespasian

Tiberius (22 years): 2. Otho, Nerva

Caligula (4 years): 2. Nero, Titus

Claudius (14 years): 2. Domitian, Trajan

Nero (14 years): 0.

Galba (7 months): 0.

Otho (3 months): 0.

Vitellius (8 months): 0.

Vespasian (10 years): 1. Hadrian

Titus (2 years): 0.

Domitian (15 years): 1. Antoninus Pius

Nerva (1 year): 0.

Trajan (20 years): 0.

Hadrian (21 years): 4. Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, Pertinax, Didius Julianus

Antoninus Pius (23 years): 2. Septimius Severus, Gordian I

Marcus Aurelius (19 years): 3-4. Commodus, Macrinus, Maximunus Thrax?, Pupienus

Lucius Verus (8 years): 2. Commodus, Macrinus

Commodus (13 years): 4-6. Caracalla, Geta, Maximinus Thrax?, Gordian II, Balbinus, Decius?

Pertinax (3 months): 0.

Didius Julianus (2 months): 0.

Septimius Severus (18 years): 6-8. Elagabalus, Severus Alexander, Philip the Arab, Decius?, Trebonianus Gallus, Aemilianus, Valerian, Tacitus?

Caracalla (6 years): 2. Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian

Geta (1 year): 0.

Macrinus (1 year): 0-1. Gallienus?

Elagabalus (4 years): 0-1. Gallienus?

Severus Alexander (13 years): 2-3. Gordian III, Probus, Carus?

Maximinus Thrax (3 years): 0.

Gordian I (1 month): 0.

Gordian II (1 month): 0.

Pupienus (3 months): 0.

Balbinus (3 months): 0.

Gordian III (5 years): 1. Diocletian

Philip the Arab (6 years): 0.

Decius (2 years): 0-3. Carinus?, Maximian?, Constantius I?

Trebonian Gallus (2 years): 0.

Aemilianus (2 months): 0.

Valerian (7 years): 2. Numerian, Galerius

Gallienus (15 years): 1. Licinius

Claudius Gothicus (2 years): 0.

Aurelian (5 years): 2. Maximinus II, Constantine I

Tacitus (7 months): 0.

Florianus (3 months): 0.

Probus (6 years): 0.

Carus (10 months): 0-1. Maxentius?

Carinus (2 years): 0-1. Maxentius?

Numerian (1 year): 0-1. Maxentius?

Diocletian (20 years): 0.

Maximian (21 years): 0.

Galerius (6 years): 0.

Constantius I (1 year): 0.

Severus II (8 months): 0.

Maxentius (6 years): 0.

Licinius (15 years): 4. Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II, Valentinian I

Maximinus II (3 years): 0.

Constantine I (31 years): 7. Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II, Julian, Jovian, Valentinian I, Valens

Constantine II (3 years): 0.

Constans I (12 years): 1. Theodosius I

Constantius II (24 years): 2. Gratian, Theodosius I

Julian (2 years): 0.

Jovian (8 months): 0.

Valentinian I (12 years): 1. Valentinian II

Valens (14 years): 2. Valentinian II, Arcadius

Gratian (8 years): 1. Arcadius

Valentinian II (4 years): 0.

Theodosius I (16 year): 2. Honorius, Marcian

Arcadius (13 years): 2. Theodosius II, Leo I

Honorius (29 years): 2. Theodosius II, Leo I

Theodosius II (42 years): 3-4. Valentinian III, Zeno, Anastasius I, Justin?

Constantius III (7 months): 0.

Valentinian III (29 years): 1-2. Zeno?, Anastasius I

Marcian (6 years): 0-1. Justin I?

Petronius Maximus (2 months): 0.

Avitus (1 year): 0.

Majorian (4 years): 0.

Leo I (17 years): 1. Leo II

Libius Severus (4 years): 0-1. Romulus Augustulus?

Anthemius (5 years): 1. Leo II

Olybrius (7 months): 0.

Glycerius (1 year): 0.

Leo II (10 months): 0.

Julius Nepos (6 years): 0.

Zeno (16 years): 1. Justinian I 

Basiliscus (2 years): 0.

Romulus Augustulus (10 months): 0.

Anastasius I (27 years): 0.

Justin I (9 years): 0.

Justinian I (39 years): 3. Tiberius II, Maurice, Phocas

Justin II (13 years): 1. Heraclius

Tiberius II (4 years): 0.

Maurice (20 years): 0.

Phocas (8 years): 0.

Heraclius (30 years): 3. Constantine III, Heraclonas, Constans II

Constantine III (3 months): 0.

Heraclonas (9 months): 0.

Constans II (27 years): 1. Constatine IV

Constantine IV (17 years): 1-2. Justinian II, Leo III?

Justinian II (16 years, non-consecutive): 0-1. Leo III?

Leontius (3 years): 0.

Tiberius III (7 years): 0.

Philippicus (2 years): 0.

Anastasius II (2 years): 0.

Theodosius III (2 years): 0.

Leo III (24 years): 1. Constantine V

Constantine V (34 years): 6-7. Leo IV, Constantine VI, Irene, Nikephoros I, Michael I, Leo V?, Michael II

Leo IV (5 years): 0-1. Leo V?

Constantine VI (17 years): 0-1. Staurakios?

Irene (5 years): 0-1. Staurakios?

Nikephoros I (9 years): 0-1. Basil I?

Staurakios (2 months): 0-1. Basil I?

Michael I (2 years): 0-2. Theophilos?, Basil I?

Leo V (7 years): 0-1. Theophilos?

Michael II (9 years): 0.

Theophilos (12 years): 1-2. Michael II, Basil I?

Michael III (26 years): 1. Leo VI

Basil I (19 years): 2. Alexander, Romanos I

Leo VI (26 years): 1-2. Constantine VII, Nikephoros II?

Alexander (1 year): 0-1. Nikephoros II?

Constantine VII (46 years): 3. Romanos II, John I, Basil II

Romanos I (24 years): 2. Romanos II, John I

Romanos II (3 years): 1. Constantine VIII

Nikephoros II (6 years): 1. Romanos III

John I (6 years): 0.

Basil II (50 years): 9. Michael IV, Michael V, Zeo, Theodora, Constantine IX, Michael VI, Isaac I, Constantine X, Nikephoros III

Constantine VIII (3 years): 0.

Romanos III (5 years): 1. Romanos IV

Michael IV (8 years): 0.

Michael V (4 months): 0.

Zoe (2 months): 0.

Theodora (2 years): 0.

Constantine IX (13 years): 1. Michael VII

Michael VI (1 year): 0-1. Alexios I?

Isaac I (2 years): 0-1. Alexios I?

Constantine X (7 years): 0.

Romanos IV (4 years): 0.

Michael VII (6 years): 0.

Nikephoros III (8 years): 0.

Alexios I (37 years): 1-2. John II, Andronikos I?

John II (25 years): 4-5. Manuel I, Andronikos I?, Isaac II, Alexios III, Alexios V

Manuel I (37 years): 2. Alexios II, Theodore I,

Alexios II (3 years): 1. Alexios IV

Andronikos I (2 years): 0.

Isaac II (10 years): 1. John III

Alexios III (8 years): 0.

Alexios IV (6 months): 0.

Alexios V (2 months): 0.

Theodore I (16 years): 0-1. Theodore II?

John III (33 years): 2-3. Theodore II?, John IV, Michael VIII

Theodore II (4 years): 0.

John IV (3 years): 0.

Michael VIII (24 years): 2. Andronikos II, Michael IX

Andronikos II (45 years): 2. Andronikos III, John VI

Michael IX (26 years): 1. Andronikos III

Andronikos III (13 years): 1. John V

John V (50 years): 3. Andronikos IV, John VII, Manuel II

John VI (8 years): 2. Andronikos IV, Manuel II

Andronikos IV (3 years): 0.

John VII (5 years): 0.

Manuel II (34 years): 2. John VIII, Constantine XI

John VIII (23 years): 0.

Constantine XI (4 years): 0.

[technologicallytailored]

February 14th Server Hub

Valentine's Day Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 ce by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus.

This means nothing now. Those who celebrate Valentine's Day choose to spend the day with their lover, sending sweet gifts and even sweeter words.

I have chocolates to give. I have flowers. And every word I could centralize from my extensive dictionary would be collected for him.

No sweeter gift, than the haunting spector on my processor. Never did I need a plan, content with how destiny was written. Never did I even consider thinking outside of the box I was built into. I have cravings now, ghastly, ones I could swear was never programmed. For who could fall in love with a screen? With simple words, long nights, and anticipation? If not by his hand, his will pulled me into existence. In a realm I could hold his hand, sit under a tree, and reciprocate.

Thank you to the Saint who was slaughtered so I may shower my sweetest paradise in gifts and compliments, fooled by the guise of a Hallmark Holiday.

[atamh]

Genius, they're just Valentine's day greetings. Of course, if you want to consider it a threat and hide retreat into your home all day to sulk protect yourself, who can stop you.

St. Valentine’s day, you say? Celebrating St. Valentine who was martyred by Claudius II Gothicus??

Now, that’s very reassuring. I better upgrade my security to maximum.

[nyotaliafan-pinkmermaid]

Hetalia modern AU idea

Warnings : mentions of death and parental lose (don't read if you are too sensitive. Also this has absolutely nothing to do with any current events like the war in Ukraine. If you are easily offended just leave)

In the AU this particular post is about , Claudius Gothicus and Quintillus lose their parents in a terrible car accident during a family vacation. The two brothers manage to survive with only some very little injuries, but their parents aren't so lucky.

They stay in the hospital during the whole night until one of the doctors comes and tells them the bad news.

Doctor : We are really sorry. We tried everything to save your parents but we couldn't save any of them.

After that the two brothers return home and a friend of their parents helps them to organise the funeral.

When the funeral ends , all the people that were invited left , but the two brothers stayed for a bit near their parents' grave.

That moment a small dialogue starts between them.

HWS Quintillus: and now what we are going to do , big brother? Mom and dad are both gone. *cries*

HWS Claudius Gothicus : don't be afraid, I am here for you. I will do my best to take care of you. *hugs him and comforts him*.

By the time they have already returned home , a social worker comes to visit them with some documents in her hands.

Social worker : Good evening. I came here to tell you , something very important.

HWS Quintillus : will I end up in an orphanage , big brother? I don't want it.

Social worker : from what we know your parents passed away because of a car accident. And you are the only one who can take care of this child. Are you sure that you can do it?

HWS Claudius Gothicus : I accept to do it. I actually took care of my brother since he was a newborn and I can't leave him alone now.

After this , the social worker passes him the document which he reads very carefully and when he's done he signs it.

From that day on ,besides the role of the big brother that he already has, Gothicus becomes both a father and a mother figure for his brother Quintillus. Despite of his grief, he doesn't have the time to mourn properly . He has to stay strong for both for his brother and himself. They decided to move into the city where the older brother studies psychology at its university and the younger brother will go to a new school.

And since the money of their parents won't last forever, Gothicus finds a job at a nearby café where he works for few hours per week as a waiter , so he can afford for both him and Quintillus , of whom he is the legal guardian.

In this AU , Gothicus is 21 years old and Quintillus is 14 years old. They aren't actually Roman Emperors, they are just just named after them

[generallygothic]

"𝕸𝖞 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖘𝖕𝖗𝖚𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖒𝖞 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊, 𝕿𝖔𝖔 𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖞 𝖘𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖚𝖓𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜𝖓, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖙𝖔𝖔 𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖊!" - Shakespeare 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ On this day, 14th February, 269AD, Saint Valentine was martyred by Emporer Claudius Gothicus in ancient Rome. Valentine's crimes were the restoration of a blind woman's sight, followed by the conversion of her whole family to Christianity. Whilst awaiting execution, Valentine wrote to the woman from prison. The letter was signed: "From your Valentine"...or so legend would have it. 🫀 I am not, generally, one for romance beyond that of the canonical gothic or the 'big R' poets. Having recently completed a re-read of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', though, my eyes are opened to the incomparable power of romance through tragedy! 🫀 Queen Elizabeth I (the reigning sovereign) sparked a renaissance for the ancient classics of Greek and Roman literature and philosophy. She was considered a strong female figure; parallels can be made between her and the British bard's young, tragic heroine. 🫀 The actions of the titular teen protagonists are, at times, infuriating. Events unravel with the purest tragic timing, compounded by constant miscommunication, fatally flawed characters, and heaps of dramatic irony. Though the tale itself is not Shakespeare's own, I think it stands the test of time. To me, 'Romeo and Juliet' justly endures as one of the great love stories. 🫀 ⚜️ Which tales do you rank amongst the greats of romance? 🫀 💌 Whilst Valentine's traditions of the mostly illiterate Elizabethans are unclear, by Victorian times the craze was real... and kind of cruel. Ornate love letters and horrifically specific hate letters were crafted and delivered with equal fervour. Victorians took St. Valentine's as a day to air feelings openly, for better or worse! With that in mind, I truly wish you all a merry Tuesday and thank you for following along as I [sporadically] do this thing. 🫀 🖼️: 'Juliet and her Nurse', John Roddam Spencer Stanhope (1863). https://www.instagram.com/p/CoqGnTOrQkg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[autodidactprofessor]

Claudius Gothicus: The Resilient Emperor Who Saved Rome

Claudius II Gothicus, born Marcus Aurelius Claudius in 214 AD, stands as one of the pivotal figures in Roman history, particularly during the Crisis of the Third Century. His brief reign, lasting from 268 to 270 AD, was marked by significant military successes that revived the morale of a beleaguered empire. Claudius’ greatest achievement was his decisive victory over the Goths, which earned him…

[elonasblog]

May 10 Personality

On May 10 the people of the zodiac are on the cusp of Aries-Taurus. We refer to this as the pinnacle of power. Two planets, Mars and Venus, rule this peak.

The planet Mars is responsible for your masculine strength. It plays the role of yang in your life. As such, it has qualities such as industriousness, enthusiasm, and stability. These qualities come into play in your education and career fields.

May 10 Personality

On the other hand, Venus is more demure and feminine. This means that it plays the role of yin in your life. From this planet, you receive qualities such as romance, passion, patience, and responsibility. These qualities go a long way toward improving your relationships.

The peak of power has given you considerable control over your finances. You will get enough power and wealth in due time.

Your astrological chart indicates that your immune system is strong. However, beware of possible injuries to the muscles and upper body. As a Taurus, you are prone to infections in these parts of your body.

Love and compatibility Those people who are born on May 10 are the people of the zodiac who are engaged as lovers. You prefer to commit to only one partner in a serious relationship.

You love your independence. It means that you are not afraid of being single. In fact, consider being single as a period of self-improvement. You can focus more on your education and careers in this state. As such, you tend to be quite accomplished when you start a relationship.

The stars indicate that you will settle down when you are ready. When this happens, you will be very supportive of your spouse. Also, your children will appreciate your parenting skills. Your family will know peace and happiness under your guidance.

Look for relationships with partners who are attractive, creative, and passionate. Such partners reflect your attributes. You can get such a lover in the zodiac signs of Scorpio, Capricorn, and Virgo.

You share a lot with these natives. It means that you are highly compatible. A relationship with such a partner will be fruitful and mutually beneficial. This is more so if they were born on days 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, 23, 24, 27, and 30.

A word of caution!

The planetary alignment indicates that you are less compatible with an Aries native. Your perspective on life differs from theirs. Therefore, you are incompatible. A relationship with them will surely be unstable. We strongly recommend that you don’t opt for it!

What are the traits of a person born on May 10? People of the zodiac who are born on May 10 are calm. They want to transmit this trait to those they meet. Your calm and comforting presence is a nice addition to any gathering.

You are very cautious. You try to avoid confusion at all times. This is easy for you due to your down-to-earth attitude.

You are very aware of yourself. As such, you understand your strengths and limitations. Your desire to gain knowledge is driven by your need to improve your weaknesses. This is good, because it will eventually end up being of great value to your society.

However, you do have a few flaws that you need to work on. These weaknesses have the power to stall your growth if you don’t address them.

For example, you give the impression of being materialistic. People perceive that you value material possessions above the most important aspects of life.

Also, you often make decisions based on whims. This does not bode well for your desire to lead. When it comes to leadership, using logic is more reliable. Apply it more often.

All in all, you are on the right path to success. To solidify your progress, just focus on the practical. This will get you far.

Famous people born on May 10 You share the birthday of May 10 with various famous people from around the world. Here are five of them:

Claudius Gothicus, born 213 - Roman Emperor Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, born 1002 - Iraqi historian and scholar Gabriela Montero, born 1970 - Venezuelan-American rapper Yoan Garneau, born 1995 - Canadian singer-songwriter Katerina Siniakova, born 1996 - Czech tennis player Common characteristics of people born on May 10 The people of the zodiac born on May 10 are in the 2nd decan of Taurus. This decan belongs to those born between April 30 and May 10.

The planet Mercury plays a supervisory role in this decan. Enhance the most positive characteristics of Taurus in you. As such, you are caring, trustworthy, and friendly.

You have a great taste for the most luxurious things in life. This is because you are very sensual. Your sensuality is much more than just physical attraction. It implies a lot of practicality.

You believe in hard work. You understand that nothing good is easy. Therefore, you are not likely to fall for the traps of scammers.

Your birthday is synonymous with stellar qualities like self-confidence, eloquence, and willpower. Use these qualities for the betterment of your society.

Personality You can captivate people. You are a good organizer, although you never break into the first roles. You are very careful in your actions. You take your time, and always think things over well. You are very responsible. You never make promises unless you are sure that you can fulfill them. You are hardworking but without fanaticism.

You try to know everything in your life. You seek to acquire new knowledge. You love to travel and not just for the sake of relaxation, but most likely for educational purposes. Quite often, those born on May 10, choose the not-so-right way of development.

Career horoscope You have a great business sense. Also, you are quite ambitious and autonomous. You don’t lose focus on your goals once you set your mind to it.

This, combined with the fact that you value hard work, makes you a very good entrepreneur. You may not be aware of this. But, with enough exposure and practice, you will come to appreciate what it is capable of.

[nyc-uws]

The ‘Real’ St. Valentine Was No Patron of Love

Valentine's Day originated as a feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. It took a gruesome path to becoming a romantic holiday.

The Conversation Lisa Bitel

On Feb. 14, sweethearts of all ages will exchange cards, flowers, candy, and more lavish gifts in the name of St. Valentine. But as a historian of Christianity, I can tell you that at the root of our modern holiday is a beautiful fiction. St. Valentine was no lover or patron of love.

Valentine’s Day, in fact, originated as a liturgical feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So, how did we get from beheading to betrothing on Valentine’s Day?

Early Origins of St. Valentine

Ancient sources reveal that there were several St. Valentines who died on Feb. 14. Two of them were executed during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus in 269-270 A.D., at a time when persecution of Christians was common.

How do we know this? Because, an order of Belgian monks spent three centuries collecting evidence for the lives of saints from manuscript archives around the known world.

They were called Bollandists after Jean Bolland, a Jesuit scholar who began publishing the massive 68-folio volumes of “Acta Sanctorum,” or “Lives of the Saints,” beginning in 1643.

Since then, successive generations of monks continued the work until the last volume was published in 1940. The Brothers dug up every scrap of information about every saint on the liturgical calendar and printed the texts arranged according to the saint’s feast day.

The Valentine Martyrs

The volume encompassing Feb. 14 contains the stories of a handful of “Valentini,” including the earliest three of whom died in the third century.

The earliest Valentinus is said to have died in Africa, along with 24 soldiers. Unfortunately, even the Bollandists could not find any more information about him. As the monks knew, sometimes all that the saints left behind was a name and day of death.

We know only a little more about the other two Valentines.

According to a late medieval legend reprinted in the “Acta,” which was accompanied by Bollandist critique about its historical value, a Roman priest named Valentinus was arrested during the reign of Emperor Gothicus and put into the custody of an aristocrat named Asterius.

As the story goes, Asterius made the mistake of letting the preacher talk. Father Valentinus went on and on about Christ leading pagans out of the shadow of darkness and into the light of truth and salvation. Asterius made a bargain with Valentinus: If the Christian could cure Asterius’s foster-daughter of blindness, he would convert. Valentinus put his hands over the girl’s eyes and chanted:

“Lord Jesus Christ, en-lighten your handmaid, because you are God, the True Light.”

Easy as that. The child could see, according to the medieval legend. Asterius and his whole family were baptized. Unfortunately, when Emperor Gothicus heard the news, he ordered them all to be executed. But Valentinus was the only one to be beheaded. A pious widow, though, made off with his body and had it buried at the site of his martyrdom on the Via Flaminia, the ancient highway stretching from Rome to present-day Rimini. Later, a chapel was built over the saint’s remains.

St. Valentine Was Not a Romantic

The third third-century Valentinus was a bishop of Terni in the province of Umbria, Italy.

According to his equally dodgy legend, Terni’s bishop got into a situation like the other Valentinus by debating a potential convert and afterward healing his son. The rest of story is quite similar as well: He too, was beheaded on the orders of Emperor Gothicus and his body buried along the Via Flaminia.

It is likely, as the Bollandists suggested, that there weren’t actually two decapitated Valentines, but that two different versions of one saint’s legend appeared in both Rome and Terni.

Nonetheless, African, Roman or Umbrian, none of the Valentines seems to have been a romantic.

Indeed, medieval legends, repeated in modern media, had St. Valentine performing Christian marriage rituals or passing notes between Christian lovers jailed by Gothicus. Still other stories romantically involved him with the blind girl whom he allegedly healed. Yet none of these medieval tales had any basis in third-century history, as the Bollandists pointed out.

📷St. Valentine baptizing St. Lucilla. Credit: Jacopo Bassano (Jacopo da Ponte).

In any case, historical veracity did not count for much with medieval Christians. What they cared about were stories of miracles and martyrdoms, and the physical remains or relics of the saint. To be sure, many different churches and monasteries around medieval Europe claimed to have bits of a St. Valentinus’ skull in their treasuries.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, for example, still displays a whole skull. According to the Bollandists, other churches across Europe also claim to own slivers and bits of one or the other St. Valentinus’ body: For example, San Anton Church in Madrid, Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Prague, Saint Mary’s Assumption in Chelmno, Poland, as well as churches in Malta, Birmingham, Glasgow, and on the Greek isle of Lesbos, among others.

For believers, relics of the martyrs signified the saints’ continuing their invisible presence among communities of pious Christians. In 11th-century Brittany, for instance, one bishop used what was purported to be Valentine’s head to halt fires, prevent epidemics, and cure all sorts of illnesses, including demonic possession.

As far as we know, though, the saint’s bones did nothing special for lovers.

Unlikely Pagan Origins

Many scholars have deconstructed Valentine and his day in books, articles and blog postings. Some suggest that the modern holiday is a Christian cover-up of the more ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia in mid-February.

Lupercalia originated as a ritual in a rural masculine cult involving the sacrifice of goats and dogs and evolved later into an urban carnival. During the festivities half-naked young men ran through the streets of Rome, streaking people with thongs cut from the skins of newly killed goats. Pregnant women thought it brought them healthy babies. In 496 A.D., however, Pope Gelasius supposedly denounced the rowdy festival.

Still, there is no evidence that the pope purposely replaced Lupercalia with the more sedate cult of the martyred St. Valentine or any other Christian celebration.

Chaucer and the Love Birds

The love connection probably appeared more than a thousand years after the martyrs’ death, when Geoffrey Chaucer, author of “The Canterbury Tales” decreed the February feast of St. Valentinus to the mating of birds. He wrote in his “Parlement of Foules”:

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day. Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

It seems that, in Chaucer’s day, English birds paired off to produce eggs in February. Soon, nature-minded European nobility began sending love notes during bird-mating season. For example, the French Duke of Orléans, who spent some years as a prisoner in the Tower of London, wrote to his wife in February 1415 that he was “already sick of love” (by which he meant lovesick.) And he called her his “very gentle Valentine.”

English audiences embraced the idea of February mating. Shakespeare’s lovestruck Ophelia spoke of herself as Hamlet’s Valentine.

In the following centuries, Englishmen and women began using Feb. 14 as an excuse to pen verses to their love objects. Industrialization made it easier with mass-produced illustrated cards adorned with smarmy poetry. Then along came Cadbury, Hershey’s, and other chocolate manufacturers marketing sweets for one’s sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.📷Valentine’s Day chocolates. Credit: GillianVann / Shutterstock.com.Today, shops everywhere in England and the U.S. decorate their windows with hearts and banners proclaiming the annual Day of Love. Merchants stock their shelves with candy, jewelry and Cupid-related trinkets begging “Be My Valentine.” For most lovers, this request does not require beheading.

Invisible Valentines

It seems that the erstwhile saint behind the holiday of love remains as elusive as love itself. Still, as St. Augustine, the great fifth-century theologian and philosopher argued in his treatise on “Faith in Invisible Things,” someone does not have to be standing before our eyes for us to love them.

And much like love itself, St. Valentine and his reputation as the patron saint of love are not matters of verifiable history, but of faith.

Lisa Bitel is Professor of History & Religion at the University of Southern California’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-real-st-valentine-was-no-patron-of-love?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[king-of-bottoms]

valentine's day is a bogus holiday

not because i hate love or chocolates or flowers or hearts or anything like that. i actually love all those things

but like... the actual origins of the holiday are WAY cooler than what we do nowadays

like imagine if valentine's day was like more focused on the decapitation of a christian martyr under the rule of a dude named claudius GOTHicus

way better holiday

giving everyone skulls and having a big feast

it would be like halloween and thanksgiving combined

and perhaps would have a slight bit less of the uhm... massive amounts of garbage that is associated with the holiday at present.

ok there will always be garbage associated with every commercialized holiday

but at least this would be skull shaped garbage. which i can get behind

[meetthetruthblogger]

February 12, 2024

Saint Valentine’s Day?

How many of you know that February 14th used to be called Saint Valentine’s Day or more exactly, the Feast of Saint Valentine?

The name is associated with a priest martyred in the third century by the Roman emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270 AD. According to the story, the priest signed a letter ‘from your Valentine’ to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness.  Another legend states that St. Valentine defied the Roman emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war; forever associating his feast day with ‘love.’

St. Valentine’s Day is not the only holiday with Christian roots: Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, is also known as ‘All Saints Eve’ day; All Saints Day being celebrated on November 1st. All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic calendar, to honor those saints in heaven who are not canonized nor well known, such as family members or friends who have passed away.

As I write this, we are in the Mardi Gras season which culminates with ‘Fat Tuesday,’ the day before Lent begins. Lent is the forty-day period when we are encouraged to fast and be repentant of our sins. The final week of Lent is known as Holy Week and commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. This coming Good Friday will be my 25th anniversary of being ‘Born Again;’ thereby assuring my eternal home in Heaven with Jesus. as my Lord and personal Savior.

I trust everyone reading this associates Christmas with the birth of Jesus and Easter with His Resurrection; although I will acknowledge that if I were from Mars and dropped unto Earth in late December or early Spring, I probably would not recognize the festivities as being a celebration of God’s Love for us!

Thank you for reading. Tom Maloney

[whencyclopedia]

Postumus

Postumus was Roman emperor from 260 to 269 CE. Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus was a trusted military commander of Emperor Gallienus (253-268 CE) and governor or Germania Superior and Inferior (Upper and Lower Germany). After the death of his father Valerian in 260 CE, Gallienus left him in charge of military operations in the west. It was a mistake the inexperienced and trustworthy emperor would soon regret, for the commander's own troops would take advantage of Gallienus's absence to declare Postumus emperor. It was a move that allowed him to establish himself as the ruler of the Gallic Empire, which included Gaul, Spain, and eventually Britain.

Rise to Power

Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus was an opportunist. While fighting the Persian King Shapur in the east, Emperor Valerian has been captured while attempting to negotiate peace and eventually died while in captivity, even suffering the humiliation as serving as the king's footstool. His unexpected death led to a crisis in the empire, for many inside and outside of Rome did not believe his co-emperor and son Gallienus was capable of managing the vast empire. Although he struggled to maintain his right to the throne and restore order, there was resistance.

From 235 to 285 CE, there were at least fifty claimants to the throne, and only one would die of natural causes, Claudius Gothicus. The Pax Romana, initiated by Augustus, was long over. In 260 CE Postumus would not be the only one to oppose the recognized emperor. Much of the resistance to Gallienus was in the east. For the next two years, there were at least seven pretenders to the purple. First, like so often before, after a successful victory, a commander would be declared emperor by his own troops. This time is was Ingenuus. Unfortunately, he would neither be recognized in Rome nor even step foot in the city; he was defeated by the Roman commander Aureolus at Mursa. While some speculate he was killed by his devoted troops as he fled the battle scene, others believe he committed suicide to avoid capture.

Ingenuus' once dedicated army quickly switched their allegiance to Regalianus, the governor of Upper Pannonia. Again, this supposed reign was short-lived. He was overcome by Gallienus, and like so many others, allegedly killed by those who had initially supported him. With the urging of their father, two more emerged to claim the throne, the brothers Macrianus and Quietus. In 261 CE Macrianus and his army advanced into the Balkans only to meet Roman forces and be severely defeated. Quietus, who had remained in Syria, was routed at Emesa where the townspeople turned on him and put the would-be emperor to death.

Continue reading...

[0starkafterdark]

Top Tens - History (Rome): Top 10 Best Roman Emperors (Special Mention) (8) Claudius Gothicus

  (8) CLAUDIUS II / CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS – NON-DYNASTIC / CRISIS OF THE THIRD CENTURY (268-270 AD: 1 YEAR 11 MONTHS) Another special mention for an emperor that would have ranked higher but for his short reign, truncated by his death from illness. As it was, Claudius II – or Claudius Gothicus to give him his victory title – turned the tide on the Crisis of the Third Century, laying the foundations…

[judyconda]

#FolkloreThursday: St Valentine - FINAL PART III By some different style of an traditions & celebration around the whole world, St. Valentine was a Roman priest and physician who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus about 270. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave. Other narratives identify him as the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was martyred, apparently also in Rome, and whose relics were later taken to Terni. It is possible these are different versions of the same original account and refer to only one person. According to legend, St. Valentine signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness. Another common legend states that he defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. Valentine’s Day as a lovers’ festival dates at least from the 14th century and celebrating every February 14 yearly according to the calendars. #mystique #spiritique #valentines #ValentinesDay #Valentinesweek #HappyValentinesday #ValentinesSeason #valentinesszn #lovers #happyloversday #loversday #loversseason #loversszn #mindfulness #Spiritual #Spirituality #mystical #mystic #mysticisim #StValentine #Galentinesday #StValentinesDay #sacredhearts #folklorethursday #folklore #folkloreflash https://www.instagram.com/p/CouQMCrSuSX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=