Editing Gallienus (section)

====Postumus revolt====
[[File:Postumus Antoninianus.jpg|thumb|left|Antoninianus of Postumus. Legend:IMP. C. POSTVMVS P. F. AVG.]]
After the defeat at Edessa, Gallienus lost control over the provinces of Britain, Spain, parts of Germania, and a large part of Gaul when another general, [[Postumus]], declared his own realm (usually known today as the [[Gallic Empire]]). The revolt partially coincided with that of [[Macrianus Major|Macrianus]] in the East. Gallienus had installed his son Saloninus and his guardian, [[Silvanus (praetorian prefect)|Silvanus]], in Cologne in 258. Postumus, a general in command of troops on the banks of the Rhine, defeated some raiders and took possession of their spoils. Instead of returning it to the original owners, he preferred to distribute it amongst his soldiers. When news of this reached Silvanus, he demanded the spoils be sent to him. Postumus made a show of submission, but his soldiers mutinied and proclaimed him emperor. Under his command, they besieged Cologne, and after some weeks the defenders of the city opened the gates and handed Saloninus and Silvanus to Postumus, who had them killed.<ref>J. Bray (1997), p. 133</ref> The dating of these events was long uncertain,<ref>Andreas Älfoldi, "The Numbering of the Victories of the Emperor Gallienus and of the Loyalty of his Legions", ''Numismatic Chronicle'', 1959, reprinted New York, Attic Books, 1977, as cited in J. Bray (1997), p. 359, note 5</ref> but an [[Augsburg Victory Altar|inscription]] discovered in 1992 at [[Augsburg]] indicates that Postumus had been proclaimed emperor by September 260.<ref>Lothar Bakker. "[https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/germania/article/view/88931 Raetien unter Postumus. Das Siegesdenkmal einer Juthungenschlacht im Jahre 260 n. Chr. aus Augsburg]." ''Germania'' 71, 1993, pp. 369–386.</ref> Postumus claimed the consulship for himself and one of his associates, Honoratianus, but according to D.S. Potter, he never tried to unseat Gallienus or invade Italy.{{sfnp|Potter|2004|p=260}}

Upon receiving news of the murder of his son, Gallienus began gathering forces to face Postumus. The invasion of the Macriani forced him to dispatch Aureolus with a large force to oppose them, however, leaving him with insufficient troops to battle Postumus. After some initial defeats, the army of Aureolus, having defeated the Macriani, rejoined him, and Postumus was expelled. Aureolus was entrusted with the pursuit and deliberately allowed Postumus to escape and gather new forces.<ref>J. Bray (1997), pp. 136–137</ref> Gallienus returned in 263<ref>Andreas Älfoldi, "The Numbering of the Victories of the Emperor Gallienus and of the Loyalty of his Legions", ''Numismatic Chronicle'', 1959, reprinted New York, Attic Books, 1977, as cited in J. Bray (1997), p. 359, note 27</ref> or 265{{sfnp|Potter|2004|p=263}} and surrounded Postumus in an unnamed Gallic city. During the siege, Gallienus was severely wounded by an arrow and had to flee. The standstill persisted until his later death,<ref>J. Bray (1997), p. 138</ref> and the [[Gallic Empire]] remained independent until 274.
[[File:Aureus of Gallienus, minted in Mediolanum (Milan).jpg|thumb|[[Aureus]] of Gallienus, minted in [[Mediolanum]] (Milan), dated 262]]