9.9

This period is known as the "Rule of the Thirty Tyrants." These men, who revolted from Gallienus and set up separate governments for themselves, were noted in the main for their courage. They repelled the invaders and established governments that gave peace and security to their provinces (Hazzard).

(1) dēspērātīs rēbus: ablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)

dēlētō paene imperiō Rōmānō: ablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)

purpuram sūmpsit: "assumed the purple," i.e., became emperor (see LS purpura II.B.2)

per annōs decem: Postumus ruled from 260–269 CE.

ita imperāvit ut:  ita signals a result clause (AG 537)

Quī: connecting relative referring to Postumus (AG 308.f)

quod Mogontiacum…dīripiendam mīlitibus trādere nōluisset: "because he had refused to allow the soldiers to plunder the city of Mainz" (Bird); dīripiendam is a gerundive denoting purpose (AG 500.4). The Historia Augusta offers a different account:

Laeliānō rēs novās mōliente: ablative absolute (AG 419); rēs novās = "revolution, revolt" (LS novus I.A.4)

(2) vīlissimus opifex: M. Aurelius Marius is said to have been a smith, ferrī opifex (Hazzard). Evidence from coins indicates that he ruled far longer than the two or three days accorded him by Eutropius (H.A. Tyr. trig. 8.1) (Bird).

(3) Victorīnus: M. Piavonius Victorinus ruled from 268 to 270 CE.

cum nimiae libidīnis esset: cum here is causal (AG 549), while nimiae libidīnis is genitive of quality (AG 345)

mātrimōnia aliēna: here mātrimōnia has a concrete meaning "wives" (Hazzard; LS matrimonium II)

Agrippīnae: "at Cologne," locative case (AG 427.3)

āctuāriō quōdam dolum māchinante: ablative absolute using a present active participle (AG 419). A quartermaster, a relatively senior officer who kept accounts, supervised stores, and distributed supplies and provisions.