Aurelian - Roman Emperor

Definition: Aurelian (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus) (September 9 A.D. 214/215-275), was Roman emperor from A.D. 270-275. Aurelian was an Illyrian (western Balkan peninsula) and one of the soldier emperors. He defeated the Vandals when they invaded Pannonia (modern day - parts of Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and defeated the Iuthungi when they invaded Italy. Aurelian put down a revolt of Roman mint workers, reformed the coinage and grain supply. He recovered Egypt, Asian territories and besieged and eventually sacked Palmyra, Syria in the Palmyrene War (272/273). He recovered Gaul in 274. Aurelian attempted to establish the god Sol invictus as the principal god of the Roman Empire with its own priesthood, games, a new temple in the Campus Martius. He attributed his victory over the Palmyrenes to this god. In the fall of 275, while on campaign, Valerian was murdered by his generals in Caenophrurium.

Aurelian was married to Ulpia Severina, who may have ruled briefly during the interregnum following her husband's death. Tacitus succeeded Aurelian to the throne.

Sources:

• _{DIR - Aurelian}
• _{Diana Bowder's Who's Who in the Roman World}
• _{Humphries, Mark (2001) Constantine, Christianity and Rome. Hermathena, 171 . pp. 47-63.}