Gallienus AE Antoninianus, VIRTVS AVG Mars Holding Globe
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:21327297 | Ruler: Gallienus |
| Denomination: Antoninianus |
Gallienus, 253 - 268
Born around 218, Gallienus was the eldest son of Valerian and Mariniana. He was initially raised to Caesar upon his father's accession to the purple in 253, but quickly was raised to Augustus. The crises facing the empire were too pressing for father and son to remain together, so Gallienus was sent to the West to secure the borders there, particularly in Gaul and Germania. During the period of his joint rule, he was immensely successful, winning many victories ...against the Germans who tried to invade the Empire. The first signs of trouble came in 258 when his teenaged son Valerian II died under mysterious circumstances under the care of a man who soon rebelled as a usurper.
in 260, things fell apart in quick succession. Valerian was captured and taken prisoner early in the year, his son Saloninus was killed in the rebellion of Postumus, who soon controlled the western third of the empire, and usurpers started coming out of the woodworks. The (unreliable) Historia Augusta claims that during this period of sole rule, thirty usurpers attempted to take the empire from Gallienus; while this is exaggerated with fictitious claimants and others inaccurately assigned, at least five usurpers against Gallienus received enough recognition to control a mint, and at least one more major rebellion from one of his generals who did not control a mint. To complicate matters further, the local client king of Syria, Oadenathus, launched an unexpectedly successful counterattack against first the usurper Macrianus, then against the Sassanian Empire, restoring the fallen Roman lands, but declaring them for himself. Fortunately, he was loyal to Gallienus, so no immediate action was needed against the new Palmyrene Empire.
Gallienus spent the next eight years floundering as he attempted to put out fires as the sole emperor of Rome. He repelled some invasions, but an Alemannic invasion force nearly reached the city of Rome, having to finally be repelled by a scrambled-together militia of Praetorian guards and private citizens. Sometime between 264-265 Gallienus led an expedition to attempt to unseat Postumus, but was gravely injured while laying seige to the usurper and was forced to withdraw, granting de facto recognition to the Gallic Empire. After winning a victory against the Goths, Gallienus' deputy Aureolus rose up in rebellion, declaring loyalty to Postumus. Attempting to put down the rebellion, Gallienus was murdered in a conspiracy by his inner circle, his age given at about 50 years old. Following his death, nearly his entire family was put to death at Rome.
Born around 218, Gallienus was the eldest son of Valerian and Mariniana. He was initially raised to Caesar upon his father's accession to the purple in 253, but quickly was raised to Augustus. The crises facing the empire were too pressing for father and son to remain together, so Gallienus was sent to the West to secure the borders there, particularly in Gaul and Germania. During the period of his joint rule, he was immensely successful, winning many victories ...against the Germans who tried to invade the Empire. The first signs of trouble came in 258 when his teenaged son Valerian II died under mysterious circumstances under the care of a man who soon rebelled as a usurper.
in 260, things fell apart in quick succession. Valerian was captured and taken prisoner early in the year, his son Saloninus was killed in the rebellion of Postumus, who soon controlled the western third of the empire, and usurpers started coming out of the woodworks. The (unreliable) Historia Augusta claims that during this period of sole rule, thirty usurpers attempted to take the empire from Gallienus; while this is exaggerated with fictitious claimants and others inaccurately assigned, at least five usurpers against Gallienus received enough recognition to control a mint, and at least one more major rebellion from one of his generals who did not control a mint. To complicate matters further, the local client king of Syria, Oadenathus, launched an unexpectedly successful counterattack against first the usurper Macrianus, then against the Sassanian Empire, restoring the fallen Roman lands, but declaring them for himself. Fortunately, he was loyal to Gallienus, so no immediate action was needed against the new Palmyrene Empire.
Gallienus spent the next eight years floundering as he attempted to put out fires as the sole emperor of Rome. He repelled some invasions, but an Alemannic invasion force nearly reached the city of Rome, having to finally be repelled by a scrambled-together militia of Praetorian guards and private citizens. Sometime between 264-265 Gallienus led an expedition to attempt to unseat Postumus, but was gravely injured while laying seige to the usurper and was forced to withdraw, granting de facto recognition to the Gallic Empire. After winning a victory against the Goths, Gallienus' deputy Aureolus rose up in rebellion, declaring loyalty to Postumus. Attempting to put down the rebellion, Gallienus was murdered in a conspiracy by his inner circle, his age given at about 50 years old. Following his death, nearly his entire family was put to death at Rome.
