Pompeius Probus

Pompeius Probus (floruit 307-314) was a politician of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy, active at the Eastern court under Emperors Galerius and Licinius.

Life

Probus was a member of the Petronii Probi, a family of the senatorial aristocracy. His son Petronius Probianus was consul in 322, and his grand-daughter was the poetess Faltonia Proba.

Around 307 Probus was sent by Galerius as an envoy to Maxentius, together with Licinius. Between 310 and 314 he was appointed Praetorian prefect of the East. Since he was a man of the Eastern court, his appointment to the consulship, in 310, was not recognised either by Maxentius, who controlled Rome, or by Constantine I, who ruled over Gaul, and was thus effective only in the East.

Sources

• Arnold Hugh Martin Jones, John Robert Martindale, John Morris, "Pompeius Probus 6", Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, volume 1, Cambridge University Press, 1971, ISBN 0-521-07233-6, p. 740.
• Lieu, Samuel N., and Dominic Montserrat eds., From Constantine to Julian: A Source History, Routledge, 1995, ISBN 0-415-09335-X, p. 53.
• "Faltonia Proba", The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII, 1911, New York, Robert Appleton Company.