The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) secured the Rhine and Danube lines in his battles against the Franks, Alemanni, Burgundians, Vandals and Goths. In 280, he lifted the ban imposed by Emperor Domitian (51-96) in 92 on planting vines in the provinces outside Italy. In the "Historia Augusta" it is mentioned: Gallis omnibus et Hispanis ac Brittannis hinc permisit, ut vites haberent vinumque conficerent (He allowed all Gauls, Spaniards and Britons to own vines and make wine). In Germany and Austria, he is regarded as the founder of viticulture and is even brought close to wine gods. In the wine-growing village of Grinzing in Wien there is even a lane named after him, but the emperor probably never visited this Roman border settlement. Although he provided important impulses, his achievements have been somewhat exaggerated, for example by the French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832). However, it is undisputed that he had a positive influence on viticulture throughout Europe.
There is no information about his personal wine preferences, but it can be assumed that the classic wines of the Roman upper class of the time, such as the famous Falernian, were to be found at his table. Even in times of peace, he made his soldiers work hard; among other things, they had to clear the land to plant new vineyards. This was done, for example, in the two provinces of Pannonia (western Hungary, Burgenland, etc.) especially on the Danube and Gaul. Paradoxically, Probus was allegedly murdered in a vineyard by discontented soldiers of his army. The presumed background was that the emperor was thinking of dismissing the soldiers after relative peace had returned to the empire. The legionaries were therefore called upon to perform civilian tasks unpopular with the troops. As a tribute to the emperor, the new variety Probus was named in Serbia. See also under Ancient Wines and Ancient Grape Varieties.
Mosaic: By Clemens- Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Link
Coin: By Gunthram - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
