The life of Saloninus
Early life & Reign
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Saloninus was born around the year 242, in an unknown location. He was born roughly ten years before his father Gallienus and grandfather Valerian would become the Emperor's of Rome. Saloninus was the middle child of Gallienus, his had an older brother being Valerian II and the younger brother, Marinianus.
Saloninus was appointed as Caesar by his father in 258. This position was similar to a junior emperor - essentially Gallienus' heir. It is likely Saloninus was made Caesar at the request of Emperor Valerian as a means of creating a line of succession and to ensure the dynasty continued to rule Rome for decades to come. After receiving this title Saloninus was sent to Gaul to be an extension of Gallienus' power and ensure order was kept within the province. While in Gaul, Saloninus was accompanied by the Praetorian Prefect, Silvanus, who would protect him and also act as his advisor. Together they resided in Cologne which acted as their base of operations for overseeing all of Gaul. At some point in 260 Saloninus was promoted to full co-Emperor with Gallienus, probably as a result of Valerian's capture and imprisonment at the hands of the Sassanid King of Kings, Shapur I. Later in the same year, a Roman general named Postumus and his army had defeated a band of barbarian invaders and had shared their stolen plunder amongst themselves. Saloninus and Silvanus demanded that he hand the plunder over to them. Postumus was ready to comply with the command but his army, disillusioned with the rule of Gallienus and Saloninus, proclaimed him Emperor instead. Saloninus and Silvanus barricaded themselves inside Cologne which was swiftly besieged by Postumus, who was now merely a puppet of his own army. |
A coin bearing the image of Saloninus. By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=832853
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Death & Legacy
The siege against Cologne continued and Postumus' forces showed no signs of relenting. Valerian was still imprisoned thousands of miles away in the East, and Gallienus was likely engaged in one of the many other conflicts raging across the northern territories of the Roman Empire. Saloninus, save for his protector Silvanus, was alone. Eventually the defenders of Cologne gave up their resistance and handed over Saloninus and Silvanus who were murdered by Postumus and his men.
Gallienus now once again ruled the Roman Empire alone. He grieved for the loss of Saloninus, the second of his sons to die, as Valerian II had been mysteriously killed some years before. Gallienus appears to have given up his father's dream of creating a ruling dynasty of Rome, opting to protect his last living child instead and not exposing him to potential danger.
Gallienus now once again ruled the Roman Empire alone. He grieved for the loss of Saloninus, the second of his sons to die, as Valerian II had been mysteriously killed some years before. Gallienus appears to have given up his father's dream of creating a ruling dynasty of Rome, opting to protect his last living child instead and not exposing him to potential danger.
Trivia
- Saloninus was the second oldest of Gallienus' sons, and the second to die.