Ingenuus
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| Ingenuus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Usurper of the Roman Empire | ||
| Reign | c. 258 or June 260 | |
| Died | 260 | |
| Predecessor | Valerian | |
| Successor | Gallienus | |
Ingenuus (d. 260) was a Roman usurper. He held a senior military command in Pannonia when he proclaimed himself Roman Emperor c. 260 (according to some sources in 258), after the death of emperor Valerian.
He had been charged with the military education of Caesar Cornelius Licinius Valerianus, the young son of Emperor Gallienus, but after the boy's death in 258, his position became perilous. He saw his chance when Valerian was captured and killed by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire and revolted against Gallienus, in 260.
Gallienus acted quickly by recalling troops from Gaul and after a rapid march he met Ingenuus on the battlefield at Mursa. Ingenuus' troops were defeated, as Gallienus general, Aureolus, adequately used the advantage given by the mobility of an improved cavalry component of the army, which was the remarkable military innovation wanted by the emperor.
The usurper was killed in battle, or took his own life to avoid capture.
There are no coins bearing his name, a sign that his rebellion was short-lived and did not control any mint. Ingenuus is listed among the Thirty Tyrants in the Historia Augusta.
