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.