__NOTOC__ Marcellinus (died 31 September 351) was a

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Roman Republic, Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings aro ...

officer under Roman Emperor Constans and usurper Magnentius. Marcellinus was '' comes rerum privatarum'' of Emperor Constans. He played a major role in the election of Magnentius to the rank of ''

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

'' at

Augustodunum Autun () is a subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the early Roman Empire by Emperor Augustus as Augustodunum to give a Ro ...

, on January 18, 350. Marcellinus organized a party for the birthday of his sons, and invited many of the superior officers: Magnentius, acting like interpreting a drama, vested the imperial robes, and was hailed ''Augustus'' by the officers; when the troops heard the cries, they supported Magnentius' election. Magnentius raised Marcellinus to the rank of ''

magister officiorum The ''magister officiorum'' (Latin language, Latin literally for "Master of Offices", in gr, μάγιστρος τῶν ὀφφικίων, magistros tōn offikiōn) was one of the most senior administrative officials in the Later Roman Empire and ...

''; after the usurpation of Nepotianus (3 June 350), Marcellinus was sent to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

to deal with the matter, and he succeeded in suppressing the revolt (30 June), killing Nepotianus and his mother Eutropia, half-sister of Emperor

Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterran ...

. Marcellinus also met Emperor Constantius II's messenger,

Flavius Philippus Flavius Philippus (also spelled Filippus; 340s–350s) was an official under the Roman emperor Constantius II. Biography Son of a sausage-maker, Philippus rose in social standing, becoming a ''notarius''. In 346, he became Praetorian Prefec ...

, and escorted him to Magnentius, in a failed embassy to avoid a battle between Constantius and Magnentius.Zosimus, II.46.3. Marcellinus disappeared in the following Battle of Mursa Major (28 September 351), in which Magnentius was defeated. Most likely, he was killed, and his body lost.

Notes

References

Primary sources

* Aurelius Victor, ''Epitome de Caesaribus''. * Zosimus, ''Historia Nova''.

Secondary sources

* 4th-century Romans 351 deaths Magistri officiorum Year of birth unknown {{AncientRome-bio-stub