Philip the Arab

Marcus Julius Philippus (c. 204 - 249), also known as Philip the Arab, was Roman emperor from 244 to 249.

He was appointed to succeed Timesitheus[?] as Praetorian Prefect, whereupon he participated in Gordian III's assassination. He started his rule by concluding peace with the Persians and established a good relationship with the Senate. In April of 248 he led the celebration of the one thousandth birthday of Rome.

However, in the summer of that year, the Goths invaded Moesia, modern-day Bulgaria, and would-be emperors in the Balkans and the East. To deal with these problems he appointed Decius to the Danubian[?] command, but Decius' popularity with the troops resulted with the later man being acclaimed Emperor. Philip and his son were killed in a battle at Verona.

Later tradition, including the historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, wrongly stated that Philip was the first Christian Roman emperor.

Preceded by: Gordian III

Roman emperors

Followed by: Decius