Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus, 251 - 253

Gallus, or Trebonianus Gallus as he is often known, was a general under Decius and was present when Decius' army was defeated by the Goths and the emperor killed in 251. The troops declared for Gallus, and he was installed as emperor. During a short and turbulent reign, the empire was ravaged by invasions from north and east, as well as by plague, which carried off Gallus' co-emperor Hostilian, the younger son of Decius. The Goths were eventually defeated by Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus in 252. Aemilian was immediately proclaimed emperor by his troops. As the triumphant army of Aemilian advanced towards Rome, Gallus's own troops turned on their emperor and murdered him along with his son and co-emperor Volusian.