Censorinus (usurper)

Appius Claudius Censorinus was a usurper against Roman Emperor Claudius II, according to the Historia Augusta. He is included in the list of the Thirty Tyrants.

He reportedly had a lengthy career, having served twice as a consul, twice as a praetorian prefect, thrice as a praefectus urbi, and four times as a proconsul. He served under Valerian in the Roman–Persian Wars and was wounded in conbat. His wounds forced him to retire from military service. He was already an old man and long retired when the troops of Bologna revolted and proclaimed him an Augustus. He was killed by his own soldiers, because he enforced too strict discipline. His reign lasted only a few days.

Francisco Mediobarbo Birago, a 17th-century numismatist, reported the existence of a coim commemorating the 3rd year of Censorinus' reign. The lack of sources for such a coin, make it likely that it was a forgery of some kind. Louis-Sébastien Le Nain de Tillemont suggested that Censorinus and Victorinus could be the same person.

The revolt of Censorinus is questionable. He should have revolted in 269–270. The source is the Historia Augusta, according to which Censorinus had been consul twice, even if there is no record of such offices; he proclaimed himself emperor, but soon  His tomb should have been in Bologna.