Editing Zenobia (section)

====Empress and open rebellion====
[[File:ZENOBIA - RIC V 2 - 80000750.jpg|thumb|alt=Both sides of a coin commemorating Zenobia|Coin of Zenobia as empress with [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]] on the reverse, AD 272]]

An inscription, found in Palmyra and dated to August 271, called Zenobia ''eusebes'' (the pious);{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 68]}} this title, used by Roman empresses, could be seen as a step by the queen toward an imperial title.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69]}} Another contemporary inscription called her ''sebaste'', the Greek equivalent of "empress" (Latin: ''[[Augusta (honorific)|Augusta]]''), but also acknowledged the Roman emperor.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69]}}{{#tag:ref|An Egyptian grain receipt dated to June 241 refers to both Aurelian and Vaballathus as ''[[Augustus (honorific)|Augusti]]'', but it is considered an anomaly and most likely a scribal error.{{sfn|Watson|2004|pp= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69], [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA240 240]}}{{sfn|Andrade|2018|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=mLhwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA176 176]}}|group=note}} Finally, Palmyra officially broke with Rome;{{sfn|Dignas|Winter|2007|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=MG2hqcRDvJgC&pg=PA161 161]}} the Alexandrian and Antiochian mints removed Aurelian's portrait from the coins in April 272, issuing new [[tetradrachm]]s in the names of Vaballathus and Zenobia (who were called ''Augustus'' and ''Augusta'', respectively).{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69]}} On Zenobia's ''antoninianus'' of 272, she appeared as a Roman ruler, depicting herself in the style of the Syrian Empresses: [[Julia Domna]], [[Julia Mamaea]] and [[Julia Soaemias]].{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA126 126]}}

The assumption of imperial titles by Zenobia signaled a [[Usurper|usurpation]]: independence from, and open rebellion against, Aurelian.{{sfn|Southern|2015|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=2p9hCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA169 169]}} The timeline of events and why Zenobia declared herself empress is vague.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA120 120]}} In the second half of 271,{{sfn|Potter|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=7HKFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA266 266]}} Aurelian marched to the East, but was delayed by the [[Goths]] in the Balkans;{{sfn|Southern|2015|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=2p9hCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA169 169]}} this may have alarmed the queen, driving her to claim the imperial title.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA120 120]}} Zenobia also probably understood the inevitability of open conflict with Aurelian, and decided that feigning subordination would be useless;{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA121 121]}} her assumption of the imperial title was used to rally soldiers to her cause.{{sfn|Southern|2008|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=DqMrR29Cc7MC&pg=PA121 121]}} Aurelian's campaign seems to have been the main reason for the Palmyrene imperial declaration and the removal of his portrait from its coins.{{sfn|Watson|2004|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ2JAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 69]}}{{sfn|Young|2003|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=E5yCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA162 162]}}