Gallien

Gallien (Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) (218 - 268) was Roman Emperor of 253 with 268, sharing the capacity with his/her father Valérien until in 260. He is not the last member of the senatorial Ordre to have been emperor, the following are not any more but soldiers. One makes usually his reign the most difficult period of the Roman Empire. But this emperor suffers from the unfavourable image which of him the Histoire Auguste gave.

Actually, Gallien was in an extremely difficult situation: attacked at the same time by usurpers (“Thirty Tyrants”) and by invasions on almost all the borders, it was moreover to face scissions of the Empire: in the East, the queen of Palmyre, Zénobie, had made herself independent, in the west, Postumus, one of the thirty Tyrants, had founded a Empire of Gaules to defend these provinces against the Germains. Gallien seems to be honourably left about it, it gained some victories and it has a share of responsibility in the rectification which the end of the century knew, in particular by reforming the army which was going to allow the Empereurs illyriens to push back the invasions. Better, in spite of a very disturbed reign, it succeeds in being maintained with the capacity 15 years, longevity exceptional at the 3rd century. In addition, he was a follower of the philosophy neoplatonician, and contrary to his father, he tolerated the Chrétiens although he scorned them intellectually.

He died assassinated by part of his officers whereas he was going to crush the usurper Auréolus. Proclaimed emperor, Claude the Gothic appeared of offusquer and punishes the culprits.

(Gallien had three wire with his wife, the Empress Cornelia Salonina: Valérien II, Salonin and Egnatius Marinianus. All died before him.)

Successive names

218, Is born Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus
253, made Auguste by Valérien: Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus
gains the nicknames Germanicus Maximus Persicus Maximus
268, titulature with its death: Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Egnatius Gallienus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Germanicus Maximus Persicus Maximus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribuniciae Potestatis XVI, Imperator I, Consul VII, Patriae Lord's Prayer.

Note

Attention not to be confused with Galien, Greek doctor born in 121.

Artistic evocations

The Splendid Gladiator. Italian Péplum of 1964 of Alfonso Brescia

" GALLIEN" French play published in May 2003. It evokes the last days of the reign of this courageous but ignored sovereign and brushes the portrait of most human Roman Emperors. Author: Julien Bouchard-Madrelle. Editions Publibook.Cette part will be assembled soon to Paris (2007 or at the beginning of 2008).

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