Nepotianus

Nepotianus Usurperof the Roman Empire
Nepotianus on a coin bearing
his claimed title of AugustusReign 3- 30 June 350
(in competition with Magnentius) Full name Flavius Iulius Popilius
Nepotianus Constantinus Died 30 June 350Place of death Rome Dynasty ConstantinianFather Virius Nepotianus Mother Eutropia

Flavius Iulius Popilius Nepotianus Constantinus (died 30 June 350) was a member of the Constantinian dynasty, and a short-lived usurper of the Roman Empire. He ruled the city of Rome for twenty-eight days, before being killed by his rival usurper Magnentius' general Marcellinus.

Background

Nepotianus was the son of Eutropia, half-sister of Emperor Constantine I, and of Virius Nepotianus. On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora.

Events

After the revolt of Magnentius, Nepotianus proclaimed himself "emperor" and entered Rome with a band of gladiators on 3 June 350. After attempting to resist Nepotianus with an undisciplined force of Roman citizens, the defeated Praefectus urbi Titianus (or Anicius, or Anicetus), a supporter of Magnentius, fled the city.

Magnentius quickly dealt with this revolt by sending his trusted magister officiorum Marcellinus to Rome. According to Eutropius, Nepotianus was killed in the resulting struggle (on 30 June), his head put on a lance and brought around the city. In the following days, his mother Eutropia was also killed, during the persecution of the supporters of Nepotianus, most of whom were senators.