Middle Roman Empire, Military Anarchy (235-284): 38*Hostilian, 39*Trebonianus Gallus, 40*Volusianus, 41*Aemilianus

38*HOSTILIAN (c.21; r.251)

39*TREBONIANUS GALLUS (47; r.251-53)

40*VOLUSIANUS (r.251-53)

At Rome as a compromise with Decius’ supporters, Trebonius Gallus adopted the late emperor’s surviving son Hostilian and made him co-emperor. When Hostilian died from the Cyprian Plague that swept through Rome in November 251, Gallus elevated his own son Vibius Volusianus to co-emperor.

In the 250s, the Sassanid king Shapur-I (r.240/2-270/2) invaded Syria, destroyed a Roman army at Barbalissus (central-north) and sacked a number cities, but Antioch was betrayed to him by a Roman rebel Cyriades (also known as Mariades). 

In 253, the Emesene priest-king ⁴³Julius Aurelius Sulpicius Severus Uranius Antoninus repelled a Persian attack on Syria Phoenice and established a power base there. In the West the governor of Moesia, ²³Aemilius Aemilianus (40/46; fl.253), refused to pay the annual sum that Gallus had promised whereupon the Goths invaded Moesia and Thracia. Aemilianus took the offensive and on the northern side of the lower Danube gained a victory against the enemy and was promptly hailed as augustus by his army.

Gallus was prepared to fight and ordered reinforcements to return from Gaul under the command of the future emperor Publius ²¹Licinius Valerianus (60+; fl.238-260+). Aemilianus marched into Italy and caught Gallus at Interamna Nahars (=Terni) before the arrival of Valerianus. After an initial defeat, both Gallus and Volusianus were killed in August 253.

41 AEMILIANUS (40/46; r.253.08-10)

On hearing of Gallus’ death, Valerianus’ troops proclaimed him emperor. In the face of Valerianus’ advance, Aemilianus was assassinated by his own men. Valerian immediately named his son ²²Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (c.50; fl.253-268) as augustus. It was apparently decided that the Empire, with its vast problems in both Europe and Asia, would be split between them: Gallienus was to defend the West while Valerian regained control in the East.