Editing Zenobia (section)

=====Administration=====
The queen probably spent most of her reign in Antioch,{{sfn|Teixidor|2005|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=oZcr7SzzVYYC&pg=PA205 205]}} Syria's administrative capital.{{sfn|Nakamura|1993|p= [http://grbs.library.duke.edu/article/view/3431 141]}} Before the monarchy, Palmyra had the institutions of a Greek city ([[polis]]) and was ruled by a senate which was responsible for most civil affairs.{{sfn|Smith II|2013|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=h5cMho6zFckC&pg=PA122 122]}}{{sfn|Smith II|2013|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=h5cMho6zFckC&pg=PA127 127]}} Odaenathus maintained Palmyra's institutions, as did Zenobia;{{sfn|Sivertsev|2002|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=OfWUkVoHP7YC&pg=PA72 72]}} a Palmyrene inscription after her fall records the name of [[Septimius Haddudan]], a Palmyrene senator.{{sfn|Hartmann|2001|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=BdcHK8Ll1jMC&pg=PA384 384]}} However, the queen apparently ruled [[Autocracy|autocratically]]; [[Septimius Worod]], Odaenathus' viceroy and one of Palmyra's most important officials, disappeared from the record after Zenobia's ascent.{{sfn|Stoneman|2003|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=8kLFfE1qPhIC&pg=PA117 117]}} The queen opened the doors of her government to Eastern nobility.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA86 86]}} Zenobia's most important courtiers and advisers were her generals, Septemius Zabdas and Septimius Zabbai;{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA95 95]}} both of whom were generals under Odaenathus and received the ''[[Roman naming conventions#Nomen|gentilicium]]'' (surname) "Septimius" from him.{{sfn|Potter|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=7HKFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA257 257]}}

Odaenathus respected the Roman emperor's privilege of appointing provincial governors,{{sfn|Ando|2012|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=bpd3tBPN4v8C&pg=PA171 171]}} and Zenobia continued this policy during her early reign.{{sfn|Southern|2008|pp= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA87 87], [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA88 88]}} Although the queen did not interfere in day-to-day administration, she probably had the power to command the governors in the organization of border security.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA88 88]}} During the rebellion, Zenobia maintained Roman forms of administration,{{sfn|Southern|2008|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA116 116]}} but appointed the governors herself (most notably in Egypt,{{sfn|Southern|2008|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA115 115]}} where [[Julius Marcellinus]] took office in 270 and was followed by [[Statilius Ammianus]] in 271).{{#tag:ref|One of Statilius' inscriptions is firmly dated to spring 272, so he could have been appointed by the Romans who regained Egypt at that time.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA169 169]}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Southern|2008|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA88 88]}}

======Agreement with Rome======
[[File:AURELIANUS RIC V 381-795833.jpg|thumb|alt=Front and back of ancient coin|Palmyrene ''[[antoninianus]]'' minted in Antioch in AD 271, showing [[Aurelian]] (left) as emperor and Vaballathus as king]]

Zenobia initially avoided provoking Rome by claiming for herself and her son the titles, inherited from Odaenathus, of subject of Rome and protector of its eastern frontier.{{sfn|Bryce|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=Xno9AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA299 299]}} After expanding her territory, she seems to have tried to be recognized as an imperial partner in the eastern half of the empire and presented her son as subordinate to the emperor.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}}{{sfn|Bryce|Birkett-Rees|2016|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=gDAFDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA282 282]}}{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA118 118]}} In late 270, Zenobia minted coinage bearing the portraits of Aurelian and Vaballathus; Aurelian was titled "emperor", and Vaballathus "king".{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} The regnal year in early samples of the coinage was only Aurelian's.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} By March 271,{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 68]}} despite indicating Aurelian as the paramount monarch by naming him first in the dating formulae, the coinage also began bearing Vaballathus' regnal year.{{sfn|Ando|2012|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=G9qqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA210 210]}} By indicating in the coinage that Vaballathus' reign began in 267 (three years before the emperor's), Vaballathus appeared to be Aurelian's senior colleague.{{sfn|Ando|2012|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=G9qqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA210 210]}}

The emperor's blessing of Palmyrene authority has been debated;{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA118 118]}} Aurelian's acceptance of Palmyrene rule in Egypt may be inferred from the [[Oxyrhynchus]] papyri, which are dated by the regnal years of the emperor and Vaballathus.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}}{{sfn|Ando|2012|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=G9qqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA211 211]}} No proof of a formal agreement exists, and the evidence is based solely on the joint coinage- and papyri-dating.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA118 118]}} It is unlikely that Aurelian would have accepted such power-sharing,{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} but he was unable to act in 271 due to crises in the West.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA118 118]}}{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} His apparent condoning of Zenobia's actions may have been a ruse to give her a false sense of security while he prepared for war.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA118 118]}}{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} Another reason for Aurelian's tolerance may have been his desire to ensure a constant [[Cura Annonae|supply of Egyptian grain to Rome]];{{sfn|Drinkwater|2005|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=MNSyT_PuYVMC&pg=PA52 52]}} it is not recorded that the supply was cut, and the ships sailed to Rome in 270 as usual.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA115 115]}} Some modern scholars, such as [[:de:Harold B. Mattingly|Harold Mattingly]], suggest that Claudius Gothicus had concluded a formal agreement with Zenobia which Aurelian ignored.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=wnTOBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA190 190]}}