DECIUS, GAIUS MESSIUS QUINTUS TRAIANUS (A.D. 201-251), Roman emperor, was born at Budalia near Sir mium in lower Pannonia in 201. About 245 the emperor Philip the Arabian entrusted him with a command on the Danube, and in 249 (or end of 248), having been sent to put down a military rising in Moesia and Pannonia, he was proclaimed emperor, against his will. Philip advanced against him and was slain near Verona. Decius had to take the field at once against the Goths, who crossed the Danube and overran Moesia and Thrace. The details of the campaign are obscure. The Goths were surprised by the emperor while besieging Nicopolis on the Danube; at his ap proach they crossed the Balkans, and attacked Philippopolis. Decius followed but was defeated near Beroe. Philippopolis fell and its commander, Priscus, declared himself emperor under Gothic protection. The siege had so exhausted the Goths, that they offered to surrender their booty and prisoners on condition of being allowed to retire unmolested. But Decius, who had succeed ed in surrounding them, refused their offer. The final engagement took place on swampy ground in the Dobrudja near Abritum (Abrittus) or Forum Trebonii and ended in the defeat and death of Decius and his son. Decius was a capable soldier and adminis trator. The chief blot on his reign was the systematic and author ized persecution of the Christians, which had for its object the restoration of the religion and institutions of ancient Rome. Decius tried to revive the separate office and authority of the censor. The choice was left to the senate, who unanimously selected Valerian (afterwards emperor) who declined the respon sibility. The invasion of the Goths and the death of Decius put an end to the abortive attempt.
See Aurelius Victor De Caesaribus, 29, Epit. 29; Jordanes De rebus Geticis, 18 ; fragments of Dexippus, in C. W. Muller Frag. Hist. Graec. iii. (1849) ; Gibbon Decline and Fall, chap. io; H. Schiller Geschichte der romischen, Kaiserzeit, i. (pt. 2), 1883.