Definition: Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus), born c. 232 in Sirmium, was appointed Augustus in 276 after the death of Tacitus, who had been followed into office by his brother Florian (Florianus). Probus had the support of Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine and Egypt; Florian of Gaul, Spain, Britain, and Italy, but Florian was murdered by his own troops, so Probus became sole emperor. Probus, who came to the position of emperor from a distinguished military career, defeated the Goths in Illyricum and secured the Rhine boundary. Probus earned the titles Gothicus Maximus and Germanicus Maximus. While Probus was on his way to Persia, Prefect M. Aurelius Carus was named emperor. After Probus had sent some of his troops to deal with this, Probus's remaining troops assassinated him in the fall of 282.
In Rome, Probus completed the wall around Rome Aurelian had started.
Sources: Diana Bowder's Who Was Who in the Roman World.
DIR Probus
Also see:
Flavi Volpisci Syracusii Probus from the Historiae Augustae
