Editing Decius (section)

{{Short description|Roman emperor from 249 to 251}}
{{About|the Roman emperor|other uses|Decius (disambiguation){{!}}Decius}}
{{Distinguish|Decentius{{!}}Decentius}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = Bust of Decius (loan from Capitoline Museums) - Glyptothek - Munich - Germany 2017.jpg
| image_size   = 
| alt          = White statue
| caption      = Bust, [[Glyptothek]], [[Munich]]
| succession   = [[Roman emperor]]
| reign        = September 249 {{snd}}June 251
| predecessor  = [[Philip the Arab]]
| successor    = [[Trebonianus Gallus]]
| regent       = [[Herennius Etruscus]]
| reg-type     = {{nowrap|Co-emperor}}
| birth_name   = 
| birth_date   = {{circa}} 201
| birth_place  = [[Martinci|Budalia]], [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] (modern day [[Serbia]])
| death_date   = {{death year and age|251|201}}
| death_place  = [[Abritus]], [[Moesia Inferior]]
| burial_place = 
| spouse       = [[Herennia Etruscilla]]
| issue        = {{ubl|[[Herennius Etruscus]]|[[Hostilian]]}}
| full name    = Gaius Messius Quintus Decius Valerinus{{sfn|Cooley|p=498}}
| regnal name  = Imperator Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius Augustus
| religion     = [[Ancient Roman religion]]
}}

'''Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius''' ({{circa}} 201{{snd}}June 251), known as '''Trajan Decius''' or simply '''Decius''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|iː|ʃ|i|ə|s}}<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Decius}}</ref>), was [[Roman emperor]] from 249 to 251.

A distinguished politician during the reign of [[Philip the Arab]], Decius was proclaimed emperor by his troops after putting down a rebellion in [[Moesia]]. In 249, he defeated and killed Philip [[Battle of Verona (249)|near Verona]] and was recognized as emperor by the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] afterwards. During his reign, he attempted to strengthen the Roman state and its religion, leading to the [[Decian persecution]], where a number of prominent Christians (including [[Pope Fabian]]) were put to death. In the last year of his reign, Decius co-ruled with his son [[Herennius Etruscus]], until they were both killed by the [[Goths]] in the [[Battle of Abritus]].