Probus: Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 12 Part 2

Probus
Sensible and peace loving Probus

Probus was a career soldier who had risen through the ranks, so we are back to the pattern established by Claudius and Aurelian.  Both those emperors came originally from the province of Illyricum, just over the Adriatic from Italy.  Probus also came from the same region.  It may have been that there was an Illyricum network in operation favouring people from a similar background, but given that the emperors from Illyricum all showed a high degree of ability it is more likely just to be a coincidence.  Probus at least, got his first big break from the distinctly Roman emperor Valerian.  He quickly justified an early promotion by defeating a Samartian invasion and saving the life of a near relative of the emperor while he was at it.