Editing Crisis of the Third Century (section)

==== [[Palmyrene Empire]] (271–273) ====
The '''Palmyrene Empire''' was a short-lived [[breakaway state]] centered around the city of [[Palmyra]]. It encompassed the [[Roman province|Roman provinces]] of [[Syria Palaestina]], [[Arabia Petraea]], and [[Egypt (Roman province)|Egypt]], as well as large parts of [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]]. Chaos consumed the East following the capture of [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]] and the revolts of [[Macrianus Major|Macrianus]], but the territories were eventually pacified by [[Odaenathus]], who was named ''[[Dux]] Romanorum'' ("leader of the Romans") and ''[[Corrector]] totius orientis'' (essentially "governor of all the East") by [[Gallienus]], effectively turning the territory into an semi-independent entity. Odaenathus was proclaimed "[[King of Kings]]" (''rex regum''), but remained loyal to the Emperor. He was murdered by his son [[Hairan]] in 267, who was in turn killed by his cousin [[Maeonius]]. The throne went to Odaenathus' young son Vaballathus, who reigned under the regency of her mother Zenobia.{{sfn|Vagi|2000|pp=398–400}}
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| colspan="2" |[[File:Vaballathus coin (transparent background).png|120x120px]]
|'''[[Vaballathus]]'''<br /><small>{{Smallcaps|Lucius Julius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus}}</small>{{Efn|"Vaballathus" is the Latinized form of his [[Palmyrene Aramaic]] name, ''Wahballāt'', "Gift of [[Allāt]]". As the Arabian goddess Allāt [[interpretatio graeca|came to be identified]] with [[Athena]], he used ''Athenodorus'' as the Greek form of his name.<ref>{{cite book |last=Butcher |first=Kevin |title=Roman Syria and the Near East |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJPn3-rRjC0C |year=2003 |publisher=Getty Publications |isbn=978-0-89236-715-3|p=284}}</ref>}}
| rowspan="2" |{{circa}} March – June 272{{efn|Egyptian documents stopped recognizing Aurelian between 17 April (last mention as co-ruler of Zenobia) and 24 June (first mention as sole ruler). Zenobia and her son may have adopted the imperial titles shortly before this, but it's not certain.{{sfn|Watson|2004|pp=68–69, 223, 240}}}}<br /><small>(about 3 months)</small>
|Young son of [[Zenobia]] and [[Odaenathus]], succeeded his father as ''dux'', ''corrector'' and ''rex'' of Palmyra with the addition of the titles ''[[Roman consul|consul]]'' and ''[[imperator]]'', although all real power was held by Zenobia. He was given the imperial title (''[[Augustus (title)|augustus]]'') by his mother in 272.{{sfnm|1a1=Vagi|1y=2000|1pp=398-403|2a1=PLRE|2p=122}}
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| colspan="2" |[[File:Antoninianus of Zenobia (obverse).png|122x122px]]
|'''[[Zenobia]]'''
|A remarkable and cultured stateswoman; wife of Odaenathus and mother of Vaballathus, ''de facto'' ruler of the East since 267, conquered Egypt in late 271, assumed the title of ''[[Augustus (title)|augusta]]'' in early 272. She first attempted to rule as a co-equal to Aurelian, with no results. She was spared, however, and was allowed to retire with his son, later marrying a senator.{{sfnm|1a1=Vagi|1y=2000|1pp=398-403|2a1=PLRE|2pp=990-991}}
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|'''[[Septimius Antiochus|Antiochus]]'''
|273<br /><small>(very briefly)</small>
|Son of Zenobia, perhaps still a child. Proclaimed emperor during a revolt against the restored Roman rule in Palmyra. The rebellion was crushed, but he was spared.{{sfn|PLRE|p=71}}
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