Caius Pius Esuvius Tetricus was born to a noble family and at the time of Victorinus’ death, he held the position of provincial governor of Aquitania. Upon his elevation to emperor (with the help of the mother of the former emperor Victorinus) he nominated his son Tetricus II as Caesar.
During his reign he managed to fight off Germanic tribes, who tried to invade during the confusion after the loss of Victorianus, but he never attempted to expand the Gallic empire. In 273, Aurelian the Emperor of Rome sought to reconquer the Western Roman empire and Tetricus and the army headed south to meet him before he could invade. During the battle both Tetricus and his son surrendered to Aurelian but it is said that their lives were spared and Tetricus was given the position of governor of a southern region of Italia.