History of Balbinus

Balbinus was a Roman senator who briefly rose to power as co-emperor of Rome alongside Pupienus during the tumultuous Year of the Six Emperors in 238 AD. This year was marked by immense civil unrest, economic instability, and challenges to the authority of the Roman Empire, setting the stage for Balbinus's short-lived reign.

Born around 178 AD into a prestigious and affluent family, Balbinus’s full name was Decimus Caelius Calvinus Balbinus. Little is known about his early life and career, but it is clear that he held a series of important administrative and religious positions within the empire, demonstrating his deep entrenchment in the senatorial aristocracy. His cursus honorum, or course of honors, included serving as consul at least twice, which was a significant achievement reflecting the confidence and trust placed in him by the Roman state.

By the time of Emperor Maximinus Thrax’s reign, discontent had grown due to his harsh rule and military-centric policies. Maximinus was a former soldier who seized power in 235 AD, and his barbarian origins and neglect of traditional senatorial governance created a rift between the emperor and the ruling elites. This climate of dissatisfaction catalyzed the events of 238 AD, a year which began with the revolt led by Gordian I and his son Gordian II in Africa. With their brief rule quickly quashed by forces loyal to Maximinus, the Senate took a bold step by selecting two of their own as emperors: Balbinus and Pupienus. This decision was motivated by the need to present a united front against Maximinus and to placate both the senatorial class and the military.

The dual appointment was an attempt at political balance. Pupienus, a career soldier, was meant to satisfy the legions and take charge of military affairs, particularly the campaign against Maximinus. Balbinus, on the other hand, symbolized senatorial authority and was assigned the task of governing the eternal city and the civil administration of the empire, a division reflective of their respective strengths and experiences.

However, their joint rule was fraught with challenges from the start. While Pupienus left Rome to confront Maximinus’s armies, Balbinus remained in Rome. His tenure was marked by a lack of strong military accomplishments and an increasing inability to maintain order in the capital. The Praetorian Guard, the elite unit responsible for the protection of Roman emperors, did not support Balbinus and were dissatisfied with the elevation of emperors by the Senate rather than their own ranks. Their resentment was palpable and foreshadowed further instability.

The situation became more precarious upon Maximinus's assassination by his own troops during Pupienus’s campaign. Although this removed an immediate threat, it did not stabilize Balbinus and Pupienus's rule, as their relationship remained strained by differing policies and mutual distrust. Their inability to cooperate effectively was compounded by public unrest in Rome, exacerbated by food shortages and riots.

The ascension of Gordian III, the young grandson of Gordian I, complicated matters further. Recognizing the popularity and legitimacy he could bring, Balbinus and Pupienus agreed to elevate him to Caesar, an attempt to consolidate power and stabilize the government. Yet, this move did little to endear them to the populace or the military.

Eventually, the tensions culminated in their downfall. In July 238 AD, amidst rising tensions and the palpable dissatisfaction of the Praetorian Guard, Balbinus and Pupienus were captured and assassinated by the Guard. Their deaths marked a violent end to Senate-imposed leadership, and Gordian III was subsequently elevated to sole emperor, restoring a semblance of unified leadership under a more palatable figure for both the Senate and the military.

The brief reign of Balbinus embodies the challenges faced by the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century, a period marked by continuous power struggles, military pressure from external threats, and grave economic difficulties. His failure to secure his position highlights the limitations of senatorial power during a time where military might was increasingly the deciding factor in imperial successions. Balbinus’s inability to command the loyalty of the military and maintain cohesion with his co-emperor further underscores the volatility and complexity of Roman imperial politics.

In retrospect, while Balbinus may not have had a profound long-term impact on the empire, his story is a window into a turbulent chapter of Roman history. It illustrates the persistent underlying tensions between Rome’s traditional aristocracy and the ever-strengthening military apparatus, a struggle that continued to shape the trajectory of the Roman Empire for decades to follow.