The life of Valerian
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Birth name:
Other names: Born: Died: Cause of death: Reign: Co-emperor: Dynasty: Predecessor: Successor: |
Publius Licinius Valerianus
Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Augustus (as emperor) c. 193 - 200 AD c. 260 - 264 AD (aged 60-71) Unknown October 253 AD – 260 AD (7 years) Gallienus Licinii Aemilianus Gallienus |
Early Life
Like many Emperors of the third century, the birthplace of Valerian is unclear, even the year he was born is not certain, but it is thought to be between 193-200. Valerian was born into a family with senatorial status. In his youth he married Egnatia Mariniana with whom he had two sons, Publius Lincinius Egnatius Gallienus and Valerianus Minor. Gallienus would eventually join Valerian as co-emperor of Rome.
Valerian served in a number of high ranking political and military positions under a number of different Emperors, before finally ascending to the Imperial Throne himself. He served as a consul during the reign of the Gordian dynasty in 238 - it was through Valerian that Gordian I managed to get support from the Senate of Rome during his claim to the throne in opposition to Maximinus Thrax. In 251, during the reign of Emperor Decius, Valerian was appointed as censor in Rome after Decius restored the long-abolished position. Decius was succeeded by Trebonianus Gallus, who appointed Valerian as the commander of a military force likely intended to fend off Persian invasions which had grown more numerous under the reign of the Sassanid king Shapur I. Before this campaign could ever be realised, Gallus called upon Valerian and his forces to come to his aid as his rule was threatened by Aemilianus, a Roman commander and usurper who had repelled invaders from across the Danube. Before Valerian could arrive in time Gallus had already been killed and Aemilianus now ruled the Roman Empire.
Valerian's own men now proclaimed him Emperor, and they marched onward to Rome with the intention of seizing the throne. Outnumbered and not wishing to continue with the endless civil war and bloodshed, Aemilianus' own men decided to defect and murder him. The Senate quickly backed Valerian and acknowledged him as Emperor of Rome, which they were more than happy to do as he was the first claimant to the throne in decades to hail from a family with senatorial status.
Valerian served in a number of high ranking political and military positions under a number of different Emperors, before finally ascending to the Imperial Throne himself. He served as a consul during the reign of the Gordian dynasty in 238 - it was through Valerian that Gordian I managed to get support from the Senate of Rome during his claim to the throne in opposition to Maximinus Thrax. In 251, during the reign of Emperor Decius, Valerian was appointed as censor in Rome after Decius restored the long-abolished position. Decius was succeeded by Trebonianus Gallus, who appointed Valerian as the commander of a military force likely intended to fend off Persian invasions which had grown more numerous under the reign of the Sassanid king Shapur I. Before this campaign could ever be realised, Gallus called upon Valerian and his forces to come to his aid as his rule was threatened by Aemilianus, a Roman commander and usurper who had repelled invaders from across the Danube. Before Valerian could arrive in time Gallus had already been killed and Aemilianus now ruled the Roman Empire.
Valerian's own men now proclaimed him Emperor, and they marched onward to Rome with the intention of seizing the throne. Outnumbered and not wishing to continue with the endless civil war and bloodshed, Aemilianus' own men decided to defect and murder him. The Senate quickly backed Valerian and acknowledged him as Emperor of Rome, which they were more than happy to do as he was the first claimant to the throne in decades to hail from a family with senatorial status.
A coin bearing the image of Valerian issued during his reign. By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37082473
Reign
As soon as Valerian had ascended to the throne he made his son Gallienus his co-emperor. Valerian was also intent on persecuting Christians - who had been openly opposed to the traditional Roman Gods for many years now. During his reign he had many prominent individuals executed, such as the Bishop of Rome. He also issued an edict confiscating property belonging to Christians. This was an attempt to draw support behind Rome's pantheon of Gods during what he saw as a time of crisis. He could not afford to let dissent from within ruin the Empire, while it was already being threatened from the outside. Ultimately, these measures failed to stop the ever-increasing spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
In the eastern part of the Roman Empire the Sassanid's under the rule of Shapur I were rampaging across the lands, even taking Armenia and the city of Antioch. Valerian decided he would deal with the threat rising in the East while his son Gallienus would try to maintain order in the West.
Initially Valerian's campaign in the East saw some success. After a few years of campaigning the Syrian province was now under Roman control once more, and thus the city of Antioch too. Valerian decided to steer his campaign towards the city of Edessa where a Persian attack was expected soon. After arriving at Edessa a plague broke out, sweeping through the city and killing a significant number of the population, as well as a large number of the soldiers in Valerian's host. The impact on the defences of Edessa were enormous. The Roman forces could not possibly hope to stand against the might of the approaching Persian army, and when they did indeed attack in 260, Valerian and the Roman army were soundly defeated. Valerian now opted for a truce and went to meet with Shapur I to negotiate the treaty. However Shapur I had other plans, and it was revealed that the treaty was in fact a trap. Valerian and his entourage were captured and held prisoner by the Sassanids, this essentially left only Gallienus the Emperor of the Roman Empire. However it would prove a difficult task to rule over two halves of an empire in chaos.
In the eastern part of the Roman Empire the Sassanid's under the rule of Shapur I were rampaging across the lands, even taking Armenia and the city of Antioch. Valerian decided he would deal with the threat rising in the East while his son Gallienus would try to maintain order in the West.
Initially Valerian's campaign in the East saw some success. After a few years of campaigning the Syrian province was now under Roman control once more, and thus the city of Antioch too. Valerian decided to steer his campaign towards the city of Edessa where a Persian attack was expected soon. After arriving at Edessa a plague broke out, sweeping through the city and killing a significant number of the population, as well as a large number of the soldiers in Valerian's host. The impact on the defences of Edessa were enormous. The Roman forces could not possibly hope to stand against the might of the approaching Persian army, and when they did indeed attack in 260, Valerian and the Roman army were soundly defeated. Valerian now opted for a truce and went to meet with Shapur I to negotiate the treaty. However Shapur I had other plans, and it was revealed that the treaty was in fact a trap. Valerian and his entourage were captured and held prisoner by the Sassanids, this essentially left only Gallienus the Emperor of the Roman Empire. However it would prove a difficult task to rule over two halves of an empire in chaos.
Death & Legacy
According to various sources at the time, such as Eutropius and Lactantius, Valerian was humiliated by Shapur I and the Sassanids. He was not treated well at all, as might be expected of someone of his status. He was supposedly used as a footstool by Shapur I when mounting a horse.
The exact cause or reason for Valerian's death is unknown. Sources suggest different reasons and methods of demise. Valerian perhaps offered Shapur I a large ransom in return for his release, and in return he had molten gold poured down his throat. Other sources claim he was flayed alive and his body stuffed with straw so as to be a trophy.
With Valerian's death Gallienus was now truly the sole Emperor of Rome, although realistically this changed little as Valerian had been in captivity for some time.
The exact cause or reason for Valerian's death is unknown. Sources suggest different reasons and methods of demise. Valerian perhaps offered Shapur I a large ransom in return for his release, and in return he had molten gold poured down his throat. Other sources claim he was flayed alive and his body stuffed with straw so as to be a trophy.
With Valerian's death Gallienus was now truly the sole Emperor of Rome, although realistically this changed little as Valerian had been in captivity for some time.
Trivia
- Valerian was the first Roman Emperor to be captured and held prisoner by a foreign nation, and the only Emperor to die in captivity.
- Valerian was also known as Valerian the Elder.
- It is likely his body was not recovered and cremated until later when Rome waged successful wars against Persia.
- Valerian appears in the Warrior of Rome book series by Harry Sidebottom.
- Valerian had the title of Restitutor Orbis or Restorer of the World. His son Gallienus would also receive this title, as would the future Emperor Aurelian.
- Valerian was one of the few emperors during the third century to come from noble birth.