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Vetranio (died c. 356 AD) was briefly an imperial usurper and emperor in the Roman Empire in 350, during which time he controlled Illyricum between the rival emperors Magnus Magnentius and Constantius II, eventually capitulating to the latter.
Vetranio - Ancient Roman Emperors. Much of Vetranio’s early life is unknown but he served much time in the military and was an experienced soldier when approached by the sister of Constantius II, Constantina, and asked to nominate himself as Caesar in 350.
In Illyria, Vetranio was acclaimed emperor with the support of Constantius' sister Constantina on 1 March 350. [28][11] Though he publicly allied with Magnentius, many modern scholars contend that Vetranio was working for Constantius from the beginning, preventing Magnentius from threatening Constantinople until Constantius could march West. [11]
Vetranio was born of humble origin in Moesia and had served well under Constantine I; under Constans he became a magister militum. Fearing the revolt of Magnentius , Constantia, the sister of Constantius , persuaded Vetranio to assume the title of Caesar.
The Danubian army acclaimed Vetranio as emperor because he was one of them: he was legitimate enough since he received the imperial diadem from Constantina, but not a true rival to Constantius in the struggle beyond Illyricum.
The sources which treat the revolt of Vetranio are listed by A.H.M. Jones, J.R. Martindale, and J. Morris, the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, (Cambridge, 1971), s.v. "Vetranio 1" 1.954.
Vetranio was an elderly general who held the rank of magister militum under Constans. During the period of uncertainty following the downfall of the Emperor and Magnentius’ rise to power, Constantius ‘ sister, Constantia, convinced Vetranio to become temporary joint Emperor in an effort to keep Magnentius in check while Constantius was ...
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