Valerian

Names:

• ±200: Publius Licinius Valerianus 
• August 253: Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Augustus
• June 260: taken captive by the Persians
• 262: died in captivity

Relatives:

• father: Valerius Flaccinus (?)
• married to: Mariniana
• children: Gallienus, Valerianus Junior

Main deeds:

• ±200 Born
• Before 238 Consul
• 238 Sent by Gordian I to Rome
• Commander of III Gallica
• 253 Proclaimed emperor; marches on Rome; recognized by the Senate after the death of Aemilianus; Sasanian invasion of Syria; Gothic naval expedition to Asia Minor; appoints Gallienus co-ruler
• 254 Consul II (with Gallienus); Sasanian king Shapur takes Nisibis; the Visigoths enter Thrace; the Marcomans invade Pannonia and cross the Alps; they reach Ravenna but are repelled; Valerian accepts title Germanicus maximus; moves to the east to wage war against the Sasanian empire; liberates Antioch; end of usurpation of Uranius Antoninus in Emesa
• 255 Consul III (with Gallienus II); continued war in the east
• 256 Naval expedition by the Visigoths to Asia Minor; Valerian returns to the west (to Rome?); Sasanians sack Dura Europos
• 257 Consul IV (with Gallienus III); start of persecution of the Christians
• 258 Again in Antioch; Gallienus in the Rhineland
• 260 Unsuccessful war against the Sasanian Empire; taken captive by king Shapur
• 262: died in captivity

Contemporary events:

• 258 Martyrdom of Sixtus II and Laurentius
• 258 (or 259) Martyrdom of Cyprian

Succeeded by:

• his son Gallienus
• Postumus (Gallic Empire)
• Odaenathus (Palmyrene Empire)
• many usurpations (Macrianus, Quietus in the east; Ingenuus and Regalianus in Pannonia)

Links:

• biography from the Historia Augusta
• Triumph relief at Bishapur
• Triumph relief at Darabgird
• Triumph relief at Naqš-i Rustam