Sextus Claudius Petronius Probus, or Probus for
short, was the son of the consul
Petronius Probinus (2) and had a most
distinguished career. He held the position of
praetorian prefect on at least four different
occasions, under the Emperors
Valentinian I,
Gratian, and
Valentinian II. He also served as urban prefect
of Rome on multiple occasions, was leader of the
Roman nobility and the Senate, and was universally
recognized as the most honored, distinguished, and
popular noble of his time in Rome.
Though I am not sure of the precise
circumstances, it is known that he was leader of Rome
during the approach of Alaric and his Visigoths in
410, but he was dead by the time the city was
actually sacked. Many contemporaries blamed the sack
of Rome on Probus and the Anicii because the
barbarians entered the city through the Porta
Salaria, around which the Anicii owned extensive
estates, and they also cited the fact that Probus'
family managed to escape to Africa and the fact that
the sack did not ruin the family. However, it seems
highly unlikely that Probus rendered any significant
aid to the Visigoths as he stood to win no profit
from such an action.
Probus married
Anicia Faltonia Proba and had at least three sons
by her;
Unnamed gentleman #1,
Anicius Hermogenianus Olybrius, and
Anicius Probinus. As another honor afforded
Probus by the Senate, I have found several remarks
indicating that the two named sons of Probus were
allowed the honor of a joint consulship while still
children, most likely in the year 395. This honor was
noted as being magnificent because it had never been
conferred upon anyone before.
Probus was baptized as a Christian shortly before his death (c.410) and was buried close to St. Peter's in Rome.
