Editing Gallienus (section)

==== Macrianus revolt ====
It took a rally by an officer named [[Balista|Callistus]] (Balista), a fiscal official named [[Macrianus Major|Fulvius Macrianus]], the remnants of the Roman army in the east, and [[Odaenathus|Odenathus]] and his [[Palmyra|Palmyrene]] horsemen to turn the tide against Shapur.{{sfnp|Potter|2004|pp=255–256}} The Sassanids were driven back, but Macrianus proclaimed his two sons [[Quietus]] and [[Macrianus Minor|Macrianus]] (sometimes misspelled Macrinus) as emperors.{{sfnp|Potter|2004|p=256}} Coins struck for them in major cities of the East indicate acknowledgement of the usurpation. The two Macriani left Quietus, Ballista, and, presumably, Odenathus to deal with the Persians while they invaded Europe with an army of 30,000 men, according to the ''Historia Augusta''. At first they met no opposition.<ref>J. Bray (1997), p. 142</ref><ref>''Historia Augusta'', ''The two Gallienii'', II.6</ref>

The Pannonian legions joined the invaders, being resentful of the absence of Gallienus. He sent his successful commander Aureolus against the rebels, however, and the decisive battle was fought in the spring or early summer of 261, most likely in Illyricum, although [[Zonaras]] locates it in Pannonia. In any case, the army of the usurpers was defeated and surrendered, and their two leaders were killed.<ref>J. Bray (1997), pp. 143–144</ref>

In the aftermath of the battle, the rebellion of Postumus had already started, so Gallienus had no time to deal with the rest of the usurpers, namely Balista and Quietus. He came to an agreement with Odenathus, who had just returned from his victorious Persian expedition. Odenathus received the title of ''dux Romanorum'' and besieged the usurpers, who were based at [[Emesa]]. Eventually, the people of Emesa killed Quietus, and Odenathus arrested and executed Balista about November 261.<ref>J. Bray (1997), pp. 144–145</ref>