Short Biography about the life of Claudius II (Gothicus)
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Claudius II (Gothicus), Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Claudius II (Gothicus)
• Latin Roman Name: Marcus Aurelius Claudius Augustus Gothicus
• Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 268 - January, 270
• Dynasty / Historical Period: Crisis of the Third Century (235 - 284) the era of Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)
• Place and Date of Birth: May 10, 213 in Syrmia (Serbia)
• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Claudius II (Gothicus) was Gallienus
• Place and Date of Death: Died January 270 in Rome
• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Claudius II (Gothicus) was Quintillus

Interesting facts about the life of Claudius II (Gothicus)
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor Claudius II (Gothicus) from the following facts and information about his life. Why was Claudius II (Gothicus) famous? Accomplishments, achievements and important events. The previous emperor, Gallienus, was officially succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Claudius (Claudius II), who was suspected of being involved in the conspiracy to murder Gallienus. Claudius was the commander of the Roman army that defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus in September 268. Claudius received the backing of the troops by the promise of a bonus payment to celebrate his accession to the throne. In this way Claudius II started the rule of the Illyrian Emperors who ruled the Roman empire 268 - 285. Claudius II defeated the Alemanni in the late autumn AD 268. Claudius then sought to rid the Balkans of the Gothic menace. He won a resounding victory over the Goths and this acquired his nickname 'Gothicus'.

Claudius II (Gothicus)
While Claudius II was dealing with the Goths in the north an eastern menace in the form of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra emerged cutting off the important Egyptian grain supply to Rome. Queen Zenobia went on to capture large areas of Asia Minor (Turkey). And then attacks by the Jutes were reported followed by attacks by the Vandals. Claudius left the Goths to his generals and went to meet the Vandals at Sirmium. However, plague his his army and the Emperor Claudius II died of the dreadful disease early in January of 270. Before his death, Claudius II is thought to have named Aurelian as his successor, although his younger brother Quintillus gained power. The death of Claudius was deeply mourned and the senate deified Claudius as "Divus Claudius Gothicus".

Claudius II - Dynasties of Roman Emperors - Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)
The Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285). The "Illyrian emperors" is the name given to the Roman emperors who governed the Roman Empire between 268 and 282. Illyria was  a region in the western part of today's Balkan Peninsula. The people for Illyria were renown for their military prowess and they became an important source of manpower for the Roman army. Because of their military strength many of the emperors from this period came from Illyria.