Pupienus

Pupienus was a Roman senator who briefly served as emperor in 238 CE, ruling jointly with Balbinus during the chaotic Year of the Six Emperors. He and Balbinus were elected by the Senate after the death of Maximinus Thrax in an effort to restore stability and legitimacy to the imperial office.

Their joint reign occurred in a period of intense political instability and elevated military influence. The two emperors faced factional rivalry, unrest in the provinces, and the challenge of controlling the Praetorian Guard. Despite efforts to govern as a pair and to reassure senatorial authority, their position depended heavily on the support of the army and the city’s power structures, which proved elusive.

In 238 CE, the Praetorian Guard turned against them. Pupienus and Balbinus were murdered by the guard in a relatively short time after their accession. Their deaths removed the last remnants of the immediate senatorial bid to manage the crisis, and Gordian III was subsequently proclaimed emperor, bringing a temporary end to the destabilizing succession disputes of that year.

Historical assessments of Pupienus emphasize the brevity and precariousness of his reign, illustrating the extent to which imperial authority devolved to military power during the crisis of 238. His tenure is often presented as part of the broader fragmentation and rapid changes that characterized the mid-3rd century Roman Empire.

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