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Laelianus

Laelianus: emperor of the Gallic Empire (spring 269).

Laelianus
Laelianus

Names:

Successor of: Postumus

Main deeds:
Revolted against Postumus, captured Cologne and Mainz; Postumus suppressed the rebellion, but was killed after he had stormed Mainz.

New legion: VI Gallicana (?)

Succeeded by: Marius

Text from the Historia Augusta

In consequence of this man's rebellion in Gaul, Postumus, the bravest of all men, was put to death after he had brought back the power of Rome into its ancient condition at the time when Gaul was on the brink of ruin because of Gallienus' excesses. Laelianus was, indeed, a very brave man, but in the face of rebellion his strength was insufficient to give him authority over the Gauls. He was killed, moreover, by Victorinus, son of Vitruvia, or rather Victoria, who was later entitled Mother of the Camp and honored by the name of Augusta, though she herself, doing her utmost to escape the weight of so great a burden, had bestowed the imperial power first on Marius and then on Tetricus together with his son.

Laelianus, in fact, did to some extent benefit the commonwealth; for many of the communes of Gaul and also some of the camps, built on barbarian soil by Postumus during his seven years, but after his murder plundered and burned during an incursion of Germans, were restored by him to their ancient condition. Then he was slain by his soldiers because he exacted too much labor.

This page was created in 2005; last modified on 10 August 2020.

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