Procopius (usurper)

Procopius
Usurper of the Roman Empire
Coin issued by Procopius.
Reign	September 26, 365 – May 27, 366 (against Valens and Valentinian I)
Predecessor	Jovian / Valens and Valentinian I
Successor	Valens and Valentinian I
Born	326 Cilicia
Died	May 27, 366(366-05-27)
Dynasty	Constantinian
Mother	A relative of Emperor Julian's

Procopius (c. 325/326 – 27 May 366) was a Roman usurper against Valens, and a member of the Constantinian dynasty.

According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Procopius was a native and spent his youth in Cilicia, probably in Corycus. On his mother's side, Procopius was related, a maternal cousin, to Emperor Julian, since their maternal grandfather was Julius Julianus. His first wife was probably Artemisia, having married secondly the dowager Empress Faustina, while the Roman general of the 5th century Procopius and his son, the Emperor Anthemius, were among his descendants, the first being the son of his son Procopius.

In 358, during Constantius II reign, he was sent with Lucillianus as an envoy to the Sassanid court; in this period he was tribunus and notarius.

Procopius entered in Julian's retinue and took part in his campaign against the Sassanids, in 363. Together with Sebastianus he was entrusted with controlling the upper Tigris with 30,000 men and, if possible, joining King Arsaces II of Armenia and march southward, to reach Julian's army in Assyria. However, Julian died and, when Procopius reached the main Roman army near Thilsaphata, between Nisibis and Singara, he met the new emperor, Jovian.

According to Zosimus, Julian had given Procopius an imperial robe, explaining his act only to him. When Jovian was acclaimed Emperor, Procopius gave him the robe, revealed him Julian's intention, and asked the new Emperor to be allowed to retire to private life; Jovian accepted, and Procopius and his family retired to Caesarea Mazaca.