Philip the Arab was Roman emperor from 244 to 249. A Syrian native, he has been often claimed a closet Christian and the exact nature of his beliefs is a matter of debate. About 40 years old when he became emperor, he was born in Arabia Petraea and it is generally accepted that he was of Arabic heritage. Philip's rise to prominence happened through the intervention of his brother Priscus, who was an important official under emperor Gordian III. Philip became praetorian prefect during Gordian's campaign against Persia in 243 that resulted in the latter's death under unclear circumstances and for Philip to succeed as emperor. He wisely decided to go to Rome to be acknowledged by the Senate, but first had to make peace with the Sassanid ruler Shapur, paying him a 500,000 denarii indemnity. Philip arrived in Rome in about August 244 where he was confirmed as emperor.
He made sure to pursue good relations with the Senate and strongly promoted traditional Roman religion and civic virtues. He quickly ordered an enormous building program in his home town, renaming it Philippopolis, and raising it to civic status, while he populated it with statues of himself and his family. He also introduced the Actia-Dusaria Games in Bostra, capital of Arabia. This festival combined the worship of Dushara, the main Nabataean deity, with commemoration of the Battle of Actium, as part of the Roman imperial cult.These acts cost a lot of money, so to make up for it Philip raised taxes to confiscatory levels while also discontinuing subsidies to the tribes north of the Danube. It was also reported that he made an unsuccessful attempt to ban male prostitution in Rome.
As a result, the Carpi crossed through Dacia, crossed the Dabute, and entered Moesia where they menaced the Balkans. Philip expelled the Carpi back to the other side of the river and declared victory while giving himself the title of Carpicus Maximus. War began again in the east when the Armenian rulers refused to accept Shapur's authority. By summer 247, Philip was back in Rome where he spent lavishly on the Ludi Saeculares, the celebration of Rome's 1,000th anniversary (according to legend, the city was founded April 21, 753 BC). Commemorative coins were issued and enormous, spectacular festivities were held. In the Coliseum, over 1,000 gladiators were killed along with hundreds of exotic animals.In late 248, the legions of Pannonia and Moesia, disillusioned with the results of the war against the Carpi, rebelled and declared Tiberius Pacatianus emperor. This chaos tempted the Quadi and other Germanic tribes to invade Pannonia while the Goths raided Moesia and Thrace and besieged Marcianopolis as the Carpi launched renewed attacks on Dacia and Moesia. In the east, Marus Jotapianus led another revolt against the oppressive rule of Priscus and the excessive taxation of the eastern provinces.
Overwhelmed by all these invasions and revolts, Philip offered to abdicate as emperor but the Senate gave him their support and blessing, which convinced him to reconsider. He sent Gaius Decius, his most vocal supporter, to the region with a special command consisting of all the Pannonian and Moesian provinces. Decius suppressed the revolts, but the legions were displeased. The Danubian armies declared him emperor and immediately headed for Rome. Philip faced other troubles as he debased the currency, rioting in Egypt led to the loss of the food supply to Rome, and his support there diminished. Decius tried to come to terms with the emperor, but the latter's army met and defeated him in battle near modern Verona and Philip was killed in September 249, either on the battlefield or assassinated by his own soldiers.It has been claimed by historians that Philip was a secret Christian, but there is no contemporaneous evidence that Roman emperors prior to Constantine practiced Christianity and throughout his reign he publicly honored the Roman state gods.
>>18763335at least he wasn't a wannabe tranny like Elagabalus
>>18763335Phil the Arab. Sounds like a Sopranos character.
>>18763335the empire died when any random barbarian could become emperor instead of Italians
no fucking way there is an arab emperori thought the black one was too much
>>18763335Are we putting all not italic emperors?Plus and Diocletian next?
>>18763477wasn't Elagobalus Syrian? he was the high priest of a Syrian deity.
Phillip seems like a somewhat competent ruler who was in just a little too far over his own head. Maybe if he had ruled a few decades earlier he’d have been more successful. He definitely wasn’t the worst Emperor Rome had.
>>18763534were syrians arab at that time? i thought they got ARABED way after the pedo muhammad guy
>>18763543Mix of arab and greek, the coast was much more Hellenistic but there was a large arab presence all throughout since the 2nd century AD
>>18763541Shouldn't have slimed gordian iii>>18763543The southern part which bordered arabia was arab majority
Why were there no Greek emperors until the Byzantine era?
>>18763443No, the Republic died to make that happen. The Empire was all about mongrelization from first to last, my man.
>>18763628Greece was a senatorial province where there wasnt much in the way of a career path like for those generals born in frontier provinces
>>18763628Most of them just larped as Greeks
>>18763443Most emperors were non italic after 193. Also Syria was more civilised than 90% of Europe
>>18764032It's a region full of decadent and effeminate men
>>18763335Did he knew about the Holy Spirit?https://youtu.be/2YJpozZvRCQ
