Editing Tetricus I (section)

==Historiography==
The primary sources for the Gallic Empire are substandard.{{sfn|Nicholson|Casey|2018}} According to numismatist [[Jerome Mairat]], the most reliable contemporary sources of the Gallic Empire, are [[Aurelius Victor]] and [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], although they are brief and believed to rely upon the hypothetical lost [[Enmannsche Kaisergeschichte]].{{sfn|Mairat|2014|pp=6–7}} Historians Nicholson and Casey second this, describing a key source of information as being "brief notices by late 4th-century Latin authors who depended for much of their information on the lost {{lang|de|[[Enmannsche Kaisergeschichte|Kaisergeschichte]]}} (Enmann's History of the Emperors)".{{sfn|Nicholson|Casey|2018}} Mairat states that [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] and [[Zonaras]] both reveal key information regarding the Gallic Empire in short sentences, relying upon the mostly lost works of [[Dexippus]];{{sfn|Mairat|2014|pp=6–7}} Nicholson and Casey state more specifically that another main source for Tetricus, in particular, is "scattered allusions" from Zomimus' first book. Nicholson and Casey further posit another source as being "information gleaned from the rather copious coinage minted by the Gallic emperors".{{sfn|Nicholson|Casey|2018}} Lastly, Mairat states that the imperial biographies of the semi-fictional {{lang|la|[[Historia Augusta]]}} provide a wealth of details regarding the Gallic Empire,{{sfn|Mairat|2014|pp=6–7}} with Tetricus being listed as one of the "[[List of Thirty Tyrants (Roman)|Thirty Tyrants]]" within;{{sfn|Gwynn|2018|p=1496}} however, this work is generally unreliable, with Nicholson and Casey stating that it the biographies "interweave fact, invention, and an idiosyncratic sense of humour."{{sfn|Nicholson|Casey|2018}} For instance, the {{lang|la|Historia Augusta}} states that Tetricus was recognized in [[Roman Hispania|Hispania]], but modern historians have rejected this.{{sfn|Polfer|2000}}{{Sfn|Drinkwater|1987|pp=122–125}}

According to historian [[John F. Drinkwater]], Victor and Eutropius, who form the traditionalist view, cast Tetricus as being a "civilian" rather than a "soldier-emperor", therefore arguing he was not prepared to rule during a time of emergency, explaining why he was originally posted to [[Gallic Aquitania]] during his time as governor, rather than the Rhine.{{Sfn|Drinkwater|1987|pp=39–40}} Eutropius states that Tetricus had to suppress rebellion when he first became emperor, which Mairat identifies with the usurper [[Domitian II]], noting that Zosimus provides only that he rose to power at the beginning of Aurelian's reign, without providing the area of his rule, but that two coins minted in his name that have been discovered were doubtlessly made in the Gallic mints between 269-274, with the specifics of the coin suggesting a dating of {{circa}} mid 271.{{sfn|Mairat|2014|p=18}} Mairat then suggests that Domitian's usurpation may have been an uprising of the army, based in the same areas as the mint, against Tetricus due to his civilian origin.{{sfn|Mairat|2014|p=98}} However, Drinkwater argues the possibility that this "civilian" tradition is influenced by Emperor [[Aurelian]]'s propaganda and notes that [[Victoria (Gallic Empire)|Victoria]] put forth significant funds to see him made emperor to secure her own position and that Aquitania was a significant province, bordered on all sides by areas ([[Gallia Narbonensis]] and Hispania) which were threatened, or had recently been re-conquered by Rome. Drinkwater goes on to state that such a position "must have required considerable ability, both administrative and military", arguing that he proved himself an able commander against the Germans, and concluding that "The last Gallic emperor should not be dismissed as a lightweight".{{Sfn|Drinkwater|1987|pp=39–40}}

Epigraphic sources also provide some information:{{sfn|Bourne|2000|pp=46–48}} however, the [[epigraphic habit]] (the use of monumental inscriptions for public display) of the Roman Empire was in decline during the period,{{sfn|Southern|2015|p=11}}{{sfn|Bourne|2000|pp=46–48}} and many are undated.{{sfn|Bourne|2000|pp=46–48}} Fourteen inscriptions bearing Tetricus' name have been found in Gaul, although these are broken into two regions by a vertical line of inscriptions bearing Aurelian's name, which were made after the surrender of Tetricus; no Tetrican inscriptions overlap with Aurelianic inscriptions. There are another five inscriptions bearing his name that have been discovered in Britannia.{{sfn|Bourne|2000|pp=68, 84}}