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'''Gratian''' (died 407) was a [[Roman usurper]] (407) in [[Roman Britain]]. |
'''Gratian''' (died 407) was a [[Roman usurper]] (407) in [[Roman Britain]]. |
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Following the death of usurper [[Marcus (usurper)|Marcus]], Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Britain in early 407. His background, as recorded by [[Orosius]], was that he was a native Briton and one of the urban aristocracy. He ruled for four months at a time when a huge barbarian invasion was taking place in [[Gaul]]. On the last day of December 406, an army of [[Vandals]], [[Alans]] and [[Suebi]] (Sueves) had crossed the frozen [[River Rhine|Rhine]]. During 407, they spread across northern Gaul towards [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], and [[Zosimus]] wrote that the troops in Britain feared an invasion across the [[English Channel]]. |
Following the death of the usurper [[Marcus (usurper)|Marcus]], Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Britain in early 407. His background, as recorded by [[Orosius]], was that he was a native Briton and one of the urban aristocracy. He ruled for four months at a time when a huge barbarian invasion was taking place in [[Gaul]]. On the last day of December 406, an army of [[Vandals]], [[Alans]] and [[Suebi]] (Sueves) had crossed the frozen [[River Rhine|Rhine]]. During 407, they spread across northern Gaul towards [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]], and [[Zosimus]] wrote that the troops in Britain feared an invasion across the [[English Channel]]. |
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The army wanted to cross to Gaul and stop the barbarians but Gratian ordered them to remain. Unhappy with this, the troops killed him and chose [[Constantine III (usurper)|Constantine III]] as their leader. |
The army wanted to cross to Gaul and stop the barbarians but Gratian ordered them to remain. Unhappy with this, the troops killed him and chose [[Constantine III (usurper)|Constantine III]] as their leader. |
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Revision as of 13:55, 2 February 2010
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Gratian (died 407) was a Roman usurper (407) in Roman Britain.
Following the death of the usurper Marcus, Gratian was acclaimed as emperor by the army in Britain in early 407. His background, as recorded by Orosius, was that he was a native Briton and one of the urban aristocracy. He ruled for four months at a time when a huge barbarian invasion was taking place in Gaul. On the last day of December 406, an army of Vandals, Alans and Suebi (Sueves) had crossed the frozen Rhine. During 407, they spread across northern Gaul towards Boulogne, and Zosimus wrote that the troops in Britain feared an invasion across the English Channel.
The army wanted to cross to Gaul and stop the barbarians but Gratian ordered them to remain. Unhappy with this, the troops killed him and chose Constantine III as their leader.
Geoffrey of Monmouth describes a similar character, named Gracianus Municeps, who is likely the same figure.