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Valerian
Short Biography
about the life of Valerian
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Valerian, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.
Name commonly known as: Valerian *** Latin Roman Name: Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Pius Felix
Invictus Augustus *** Reigned as Roman Emperor /
Caesar: 253-259 (with Gallienus as co-emperor) *** Dynasty / Historical Period:
Crisis of the Third Century (235 - 284). Era of the Barracks
Emperors (238 - 268) *** Date of Birth: c. 200 *** Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Valerian was
Aemilian
Family connections / Genealogy
*** Name of Father: *** Name of Mother: *** Married: Egnatia Mariniana *** Children: Gallienus &
Valerianus Minor
Place and Date of Death:
Died After 260 at Bishapur (a city in Iran) *** Name of next Emperor:
The successor to Valerian was
Gallienus
Interesting facts
about the life of Valerian
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Valerian from the following facts and information about his life.
Why was Valerian famous?
Accomplishments, achievements and important events. Valerian
supported the co-emperors Gallus and his son, Volusian. When
threatened by the ambitious Aemilian, Valerian raised
reinforcements from Germany to join their forces. But he
failed to arrive in time. In August 253 AD their troops
mutinied and the two co-emperors were murdered. Their troops
then declared for Aemilian who became the next emperor.
General Valerian heard of the news of their defeat and
refused to accept Aemilian as the new emperor. His mood was
captured by his troops and with their support Valerian was
promptly declared emperor. Valerian headed to Rome to
confront Aemilian and avenge the death of his old friend
Gallus. Aemilian answered the challenge and went with his
army to meet Valerian and his army near Spoleto, 78 miles
from Rome. When it became evident that Valerian's forces
were larger, the soldiers of Aemilian turned on Aemilian
rather than risk their own lives. They then murdered their
leader. Valerian, the Censor, then took the Roman throne. In
Rome, the Senate quickly acknowledged Valerian as Emperor.
His first act as emperor was to make his son Gallienus his
co-emperor.
The Reign of Valerian
A very high character is given to Valerian, whose reign,
however, was filled with disasters. Having joined his son
Gallienus with him, Valerian vainly sought to repel the
attacks of innumerable enemies on every side of the empire
including the Goths, the Franks, the Scythians and the
Persians. In 259AD a campaign against the Persians
culminating in the Battle of Edessa was fought. The Romans
suffered a humiliating defeat. Valerian was taken prisoner
and the entire 70,000-strong Roman force being slain or
captured. Valerian languished for nine years in captivity,
his unnatural son making no effort for his liberation.
Valerian died in captivity at Bishapur, a city in modern day
Iran. Valerian's body was later skinned and stuffed with
manure to produce a trophy of Roman submission preserved in
a Persian temple.
Valerian
- Crisis of the Third Century - Era of the Barracks Emperors
(238 - 268)
The Crisis of the Third
Century was the period in Roman history following the death
of Alexander Severus when Rome entered into the era of
Military Anarchy commonly known as the Crisis of the Third
Century. During the Crisis of the Third Century, lasting
over 50 years, not one
single Emperor died of natural causes. Revolts sprung up in
virtually all of the provinces and ambitious men struggled
for power. During the crisis there were civil wars, street
fights between the citizens of Rome and soldiers of the
imperial guard, fierce foreign enemies, plagues,
famines, fire and earthquakes. The "Barracks Emperors" (238
- 268) were all military generals who seized power by
force. Taxation was high, the economy was failing and Roman
territories were being captured by barbarians and the Roman
government was unstable. During this
uncertain era and violent environment the promise of an
afterlife seemed to be the only thing to hope for. And
people started to turn towards a new religion, Christianity.
Valerian
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