GALLIENUS
Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus was the Roman Emperor from 260- 268. Before serving as sole-emperor, he served as co-emperor to his father Valerian from 253- 260. Perhaps it was his experience as co-emperor that allowed Gallineus to make great strides during his reign.
As co-emperor, he was left in Italy to control the Germanic tribes from advancing beyond the Rhine and Danube. In the meantime his father ventured eastwards to limit the Persian threats. Gallineus proved to be an effective military leader, defeating the German tribes and also crushing the barbarians at Mediolanum (Milan).
Gallineus also understood the importance of preserving the culture and history of the Empire to continue getting the favour and support of the public. Gallineus knew he had to make the people believe in him and support the things they were fighting for.
As what today would be considered shameless self-promotion, Gallineus had coins produced depicting him in victorious situations and in images of several Roman deities. Many of the coins also depicted soldiers and the legend FIDES MILITVM.
Gallineus raised his eldest son Licinius Valerianus to fill the rank of Ceasar or junior emperor but after he returned to the Danube in 258, Licinius died and so his other son Salonius was made Ceasar.
In 260, while initiating a peace settlement, Valerian was taken hostage by the people of Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire. Valerian died while in captivity but Gallineus kept this fact a secret until after a year. By this time, a rebellion against the emperor was already brewing. There had been a series of rebellions against the emperor during his reign.
Gallineus was said to have implemented some enlightened policies during his reign. One of these policies was forbidding senators from heading any military troops. This resulted in more effective commanders rising in the ranks. Gallineus was a competent military leader but was an unpopular leader.
Ingenuus, the governor of Pannonia declared himself the Emperor. But with only the support of troops of Moesia and Pannonia, Ingenuus was easily defeated by Gallineus. Soon after the fall of Ingenuus, his troops named Regalianus governor of the Upper Pannonia and continued to rebel against the emperor.
While the emperor was busy dealing with Regalianus, the Rhine army was left to the command of Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus. The troops stayed at the Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) together with Gallineus' son Saloninus and guarded by the Praetorian prefect Silvanus. Postumus had a falling out with Silvanus and left the city. Saloninus was then declared co-emperor to his father.
When Saloninus was murdered and Colonia Agrippina fell, Postumus was declared emperor with significant support from western provinces. During this time, Gallineus was so busy with battles at the Danube that he was not able to deal with Postumus.
In late 260, Macrianus, one of the generals that headed the troops that defeated the Persian king Sapor, challenged the position of Gallineus. He did this by nominating his sons Fulvius Iunius Macrianus and Fulvius Iunius Quietus to be emperors of the east. This rebellion became widespread in Turkey, Egypt and Syria but they were defeated by one Gallineus' generals Domitianus.
In 262, the governor of Egypt Mussius Aemelianus, had himself declared as emperor but he was defeated and later on executed. Meanwhile Potumus became stronger and more powerful. When Gallineus set out to crush his rebellion, he was severely injured, making Postumus the ruler of the Gallic Empire.
In 268 after winning a battle against the Gothic invasion of the Balkans, Gallineus was faced with another betrayal, this time by his own general, Aureolus. As Gallines fought at the Battle of Naissus, Aureolus was left to defend Mediolanum (Milan) against any attacks from Postumus.
Aureolus named himself emperor and got the support of the military elite. A murder plot was set against the emperor by the praetorian prefect. One night, the alarm in the emperor's camp was set off and someone struck a deathly blow to the emperor as he walked out of his tent.
This became the end of Gallineus. One of the men who plotted against the emperor was Claudius Gotichus, ironically the same man who suggested that he be deified by the senate after his death.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008
