Claudius II Gothicus
Claudius II Gothicus
(Marcus Aurelius Claudius). Born 220; died 270 in Sirmium. Roman emperor from 268 to 270.
An Illyrian by birth, Claudius was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers after the death of Gallienus. He repulsed the invading Alammani in northern Italy and defeated the Goths in 269 at Naissus (contemporary Nish). The latter victory earned him the sobriquet Gothicus. He died of the plague.