Firmus

or Firmius. One of those ephemeral Roman emperors known in history by the name of tyrants, because they were usurpers of power under legitimate sovereigns. He was born in Seleucia in Syria, and owned extensive possessions in Egypt. Urged on by the impetuosity and love of change peculiar to the Egyptian Greeks, he seized upon Alexandria, and assumed the title of Augustus, one of his objects being to aid the cause of Zenobia (q.v.) who had already been conquered by Aurelian, but whose power was still not completely overthrown. Aurelian marched against Firmus with his usual rapidity, defeated him, took him prisoner, and inflicted on him the punishment of the cross (A.D. 273). Firmus is described as having been of extraordinary stature and strength of body. His aspect was so forbidding that he obtained in derision the surname of Cyclops. His life was written by Vopiscus.