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BANDITS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
against supporters of Clodius Albinus is convincing in terms of context and
chronology. 167
Since it cannot be proved that Maternus was the instigator of all unrest
indicated in Gaul and the Germanies in his period, and since Castinus’
inscriptions are questionable as linking elements, it would seem best to steer
clear of any assumption of a basic connection between Maternus and the
Bagaudae.
7 Maternus as a supposed usurper
In the second part of his report on the activities of the deserters, Herodian
first describes Maternus’ alleged intention of overthrowing Commodus and
claiming the imperial throne for himself. 168 The planning and failure of
this attempt at usurpation form the conclusion of the account. 169 The initial
uprising was crushed only after the involvement of the respective provincial
governors, ordered by Commodus to take active countermeasures after complaining
about their negligence in combating the rebellion. That Pescennius
Niger was put in charge of putting down the revolt should be seen as an
invention of the author of the Historia Augusta, to support the credibility of
his claim of friendship between Niger and Septimius Severus, at that time
governor of Gallia Lugdunensis. 170 If the wax writing-tablet from Rottweil
refers to the Bellum Desertorum, it follows that in the Agri Decumates the
revolt was quelled at the latest by August 186. 171 As already mentioned, this
document refers to sentences passed by Iuventius Caesianus, legate of Legio
VIII. Maternus could have perished under such circumstances.
But Herodian takes the story further. In a realistic assessment of his
position Maternus realised that he could not risk open confrontation with
the legions. On the other hand, his success had strengthened his resolve to
accomplish some great deed – or perish gloriously. So he ordered his men to
infiltrate Italy in small groups and by separate ways. Rome was the agreed
rendezvous-point. An attempt on Commodus’ life was to be made on the
festival of the Magna Mater, under cover of the fancy dress usual on this day.
Maternus and his men had it in mind to get close to Commodus dressed as
praetorian guardsmen, and for Maternus to kill the emperor when a favourable
opportunity offered itself. But the plan was betrayed by some of his
own followers. Maternus was arrested and put to death and his accomplices
received the punishment they deserved. Herodian’s account of the end of
Maternus once more confirms the rule that bandit challengers could be
overcome only through treachery. The reason for this betrayal is also significant.
According to Herodian, it was envy that drove Maternus’ comrades to
take this step, because they saw ‘that they would now have to suffer him as
a lord and emperor rather than as a bandit’. 172 In reading Herodian’s phrase
as ‘because his men preferred a legitimate emperor to a robber chief ’, Brent
Shaw not only mistranslates but also misinterprets his meaning. 173 Herodian
132