Even a ray of
prosperity, which just now gleamed upon the Roman arms, aggravated the
disgrace of Gallus, and was instantly made the handle of his ruin.
AEmilianus, the governor of Moesia and Pannonia, inflicted some check or
defeat upon the Goths; and in the enthusiasm of sudden pride, upon an
occasion which contrasted so advantageously for himself with the military
conduct of Decius and Gallus, the soldiers of his own legion raised
AEmilianus to the purple. No time was to be lost. Summoned by the troops,
AEmilianus marched into Italy; and no sooner had he made his appearance
there, than the praetorian guards murdered the Emperor Gallus and his son
Volusianus, by way of confirming the election of AEmilianus. The new
emperor offered to secure the frontiers, both in the east and on the
Danube, from the incursions of the barbarians. This offer may be regarded
as thrown out for the conciliation of all classes in the empire. But to
the senate in particular he addressed a message, which forcibly
illustrates the political position of that body in those times. AEmilianus
proposed to resign the whole civil administration into the hands of the
senate, reserving to himself only the unenviable burthen of the military
interests.
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