Editing Trebonianus Gallus (section)

==Rise to power==
In June 251, Decius and his co-emperor and son [[Herennius Etruscus]] died in the [[Battle of Abrittus]] at the hands of the [[Goths]] they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire. According to rumours supported by [[Dexippus]] (a contemporary Greek historian) and the thirteenth [[Sibylline oracles|Sibylline Oracle]], Decius' failure was largely owing to Gallus, who had conspired with the invaders. In any case, when the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite [[Hostilianus]], Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parker |first=Philip |url= |title=The Empire Stops Here: A Journey Along the Frontiers of the Roman World |date=2010 |publisher=Pimlico |isbn=978-1-84595-003-3 |pages=204 |language=en}}</ref> This action of the army, and the fact that Gallus seems to have been on good terms with Decius' family, makes Dexippus' allegation improbable.{{sfn|Potter|2004|pp=247–248}} Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. This gesture aimed to present a united front and quell dissent within the ranks of the military and the Senate.<ref name=":0" />

Anxious to secure his position at Rome and stabilize the situation on the Danube frontier, Gallus made peace with the Goths.<ref name=":0" /> Peace terms allowed the Goths to leave Roman territory while keeping their captives and plunder. In addition, it was agreed that they would be paid an annual subsidy.{{sfn|Bowman|Garnsey|Cameron|2005|pp=39–40}} Reaching Rome, Gallus' proclamation was formally confirmed by the [[Roman Senate|Senate]], with his son [[Volusian]] being appointed Caesar. On 24 June 251, Decius was deified, but by November Hostilian disappears from history—he may have died in an outbreak of [[Bubonic plague|plague]].{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=248}}

Gallus may have also ordered a localized and uncoordinated persecution of [[Christianity|Christians]].{{sfn|Bowman|Garnsey|Cameron|2005|p=40}} However, only two incidents are known to us: the exile of [[Pope Cornelius]] to [[Civitavecchia|Centumcellae]], where he died in 253, and the exile of his successor, [[Pope Lucius I|Pope Lucius]], right after his election. The latter was recalled to Rome during the reign of [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]].{{sfn|Bowman|Garnsey|Cameron|2005|p=636}}

Like his predecessors, Gallus did not have an easy reign. In the East, an Antiochene nobleman, [[Mariades]], revolted and began ravaging [[Roman Syria|Syria]] and [[Cappadocia (Roman province)|Cappadocia]], then fled to the Persians. Gallus ordered his troops to attack the Persians, but Persian Emperor [[Shapur I]] invaded [[Armenia]] and destroyed a large Roman army, taking it by surprise at [[Battle of Barbalissos|Barbalissos]] in 253. Shapur I then invaded the defenseless Syrian provinces, capturing all of their legionary posts and ravaging their cities, including [[Antioch]], without any response.{{sfn|Potter|2004|pp=248–249}} Persian invasions were repeated in the following year, but now [[Uranius]] Antoninus (a priest originally called [[Royal family of Emesa|Sampsiceramus]]), a descendant of the royal house of [[Emesa]], confronted Shapur and forced him to retreat. Uranius proclaimed himself emperor,{{sfn|Bowman|Garnsey|Cameron|2005|p=40}} however, and minted coins with his image upon them.{{sfn|Potter|2004|pp=249–250}} On the Danube, [[Scythian]] tribes were once again on the loose, despite the peace treaty signed in 251. They invaded Asia Minor by sea, burned the great [[Temple of Artemis]] at [[Ephesus]], and returned home with plunder. [[Lower Moesia]] was also invaded in early 253.{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=252}} [[Aemilian]], governor of Moesia Superior and Pannonia, took the initiative and defeated the invaders.