Vitalian (praetorian prefect)

Vitalianus or Anglicized into Vitalian (died 238) was a Praetorian Prefect during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax. He is mainly notable for being assassinated in the course of the Roman Senate revolt on behalf of Gordian I and Gordian II, a step deemed necessary due to the terror he apparently instilled in the people of Rome in Maximinus' own absence. According to the historian Herodian, he was killed by a group of soldiers who gained an audience with him on the pretext of carrying secret messages concerning Maximinus.