Firmus

one of the " minusculi tyranni" who sprung up during the reign of Aurelian. According to Vopiscus, he was a native of Seleuceia, the friend and ally of Zenobia, and appears to have followed the profession of a merchant, carrying on a most extensive and lucrative trade. When Zenobia took up arms against the Romans, Firmus, in order to make a diversion in her favour, seized upon Alexandria; but the rebellion was promptly crushed by the vigour and good fortune of the emperor. The Augustan historian has chronicled a number of particulars with regard to the personal appearance, bodily strength, athletic and convivial exploits, wealth and magnificence of this petty usurper, some of which are curious in an antiquarian point of view. We are expressly told that he issued a coinage, and a medal is contained in the Pembroke collection bearing the legend ΑΥΤ. Μ. ΦΙΡΜΙΟΣ ΕΥΓΞ

which some writers suppose to belong to him (Vopisc. Firm.; Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 496.) [W.R]

a contemporary and faithful friend of the emperor Otho. He had risen from the station of a common soldier to the offices of praepositus vigilibus and praefectus praetorii. During an insurrection of the soldiers he exerted himself in suppressing the revolt, by addressing each maniple separately, and causing large sums of money to be distributed among them. During the last struggle of Otho, Plotius Firmus implored him not to abandon his faithful army, and exhorted him to resume his courage. (Tac. Hist. 1.46, 82. 2.46, 49.) [L.S]

or Firmius. One of those ephemeral Roman emperors known in history by the name of tyrants, because they were usurpers of power under legitimate sovereigns. He was born in Seleucia in Syria, and owned extensive possessions in Egypt. Urged on by the impetuosity and love of change peculiar to the Egyptian Greeks, he seized upon Alexandria, and assumed the title of Augustus, one of his objects being to aid the cause of Zenobia (q.v.) who had already been conquered by Aurelian, but whose power was still not completely overthrown. Aurelian marched against Firmus with his usual rapidity, defeated him, took him prisoner, and inflicted on him the punishment of the cross (A.D. 273). Firmus is described as having been of extraordinary stature and strength of body. His aspect was so forbidding that he obtained in derision the surname of Cyclops. His life was written by Vopiscus.