Jovinus
Portrait assumed to be of Jovinus, on his sarcophagus
Reims, musée Saint-Remi.

Flavius Jovinus (c. 310 - 370 AD) was a Roman general and consul of the Western Roman Empire. He was of Gallic or Germanic origin and was both born and buried in Durocortorum, modern day Reims.[1]

Emperor Julian appointed him Magister equitum in Gaul.[2] He then rose to the position of magister militum during the reign of Emperor Jovian (363-364) and retained his rank under Valentinian I (364-375). Jovinus successfully repelled several Alemanni incursions, notably in 366 at Scarponna, now known as Dieulouard. He was elected consul in 367, together with his colleague Lupicinus.

Biography

Jovinus served as Magister equitum in Gaul under Emperor Julian. In 363, when Emperor Jovian attempted to replace him with one of his own appointees, Jovinus was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Gaul. However, he refused the imperial title and successfully pacified his troops. In gratitude, Emperor Jovian reinstated him as magister militum.[3][4] In 366, he engaged the Alamanni, who had crossed the Rhine, in three notable battles: one at Scarponna (Dieulouard), another along a river[5] (probably the Moselle), and a final encounter at Châlons-en-Champagne. In 367, he became consul of the Western Roman Empire alongside Lupicinus.

After converting to Christianity, Jovinus sponsored the construction of the church of Saint-Agricole and Saint-Vital on the site of the present abbey church of Saint-Nicaise de Reims. He was buried in this church in 370 in a white Marmara marble sarcophagus sculpted and imported from Italy. This sarcophagus, which measures 1.48m x 2.85m x 1.33m and weighs approximately 2 metric tons, has elaborate decorations depicting a lion hunt with an equestrian relief of Jovinus victoriously spearing the animal. It has been in the Musée d'Archéologie de Saint-Rémi in Reims since 1958. However, its attribution to Jovinus has been disputed since 1880.

Jovinus is also credited with the founding of Joigny (Joviniacum) and Joinville.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jean-Yves Sureau, Les Rues de Reims, mémoire de la ville, Reims, 2002.
  2. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res gestae, XXI 8,3
  3. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res gestae, XXV 8,11
  4. ↑ Biographie universelle ou dictionnaire historique. Vol. 3. Paris: Furne. 1833..
  5. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus, Res gestae, XXVII 2
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