Editing Aurelian

{{Short description|Roman emperor (c. 214 – 275)}}
{{About|the Roman emperor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Aurelian
| image        = 5305 - Brescia - S. Giulia - Ritratto di Claudio II il Gotico - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 25 Giu 2011.jpg
| image_size   = 250px
| alt          = Golden coin
| caption      = Bust of Aurelian,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kleiner |first=Diana E. E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/25050500 |title=Roman sculpture |date=1992 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0-300-04631-6 |pages=375–376|oclc=25050500}}</ref> formerly identified as [[Claudius Gothicus]].{{sfn|White|2015|p=139}}
| succession   = [[Roman emperor]]
| reign        = 270–275
| predecessor  = [[Quintillus]]
| successor    = [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]]
| birth_date   = 9 September {{circa|214}}
| birth_place  = [[Dacia Ripensis]] or Sirmium (Pannonia)
| death_date   = {{Circa|November 275|lk=no}}
| death_place  = [[Caenophrurium]], [[Thracia]]
| burial_place = 
| spouse       = [[Ulpia Severina]]
| issue        = 1 daughter
| full name    = Lucius Domitius Aurelianus{{efn|His full name, with honorific and [[victory title]]s, was ''Imperator Caesar Lucius Domitius Aurelianus pius felix invictus Augustus, pontifex maximus, Germanicus maximus, Gothicus maximus, Parthicus maximus, Carpicus maximus, tribunicia potestate VI, consul III, [[imperator]], pater patriae, proconsul, restitutor orbis''.{{sfn|Groag|loc=col. 157}} }}
| regnal name  = Imperator Caesar Lucius Domitius Aurelianus Augustus
| religion     = [[Henotheistic|Henotheist]] of [[Sol Invictus]]
}}
{{Campaignbox Battles of Aurelian}}
'''Aurelian''' ({{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|r|iː|l|i|ən}};<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Aurelian}}</ref>  {{langx|la|Lucius Domitius Aurelianus}}; 9 September {{circa|214|November 275}}) was a [[Roman emperor]] who reigned from 270 to 275 AD during the [[Crisis of the Third Century]]. As emperor, he won an unprecedented series of military victories which reunited the [[Roman Empire]] after it had nearly disintegrated under the pressure of [[barbarian]] invasions and internal revolts. Born in modest circumstances, most likely in [[Moesia|Moesia Superior]], he entered the Roman army in 235 and climbed up the ranks. He went on to lead the cavalry of the emperor [[Gallienus]], until Gallienus' [[Gallienus#Assassination|assassination]] in 268. Following that, [[Claudius Gothicus]] became emperor until his own death in 270. Claudius' brother [[Quintillus]] then ruled for three months, before Aurelian took the empire for himself. Aurelian was chosen Roman emperor by the [[Illyrians|Illyriciani]] as one of themselves.<ref name=Wilkes>{{Cite book|last=Wilkes|first=John J.|author-link=J. J. Wilkes|title=The Illyrians|location=Oxford|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|year=1992|isbn=0-631-19807-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Nv6SPRKqs8C|page=262|quote=With the accession of M. Aurelius Claudius in AD 268 following his victory over the Goths at Naissus, the Empire came under the control of the leading Illyriciani at Sirmium. The new ruler came from southern Illyricum, either Dalmatia or Dardania, but his reign ended with his death from a plague at Sirmium in AD 270. Rejecting the Senate's proposal of Claudius' brother, the Illyriciani chose instead one of themselves, the formidable Domitius Aurelianus, probably a native of Sirmium.}}</ref>

During his reign, he defeated the [[Alamanni]] after a devastating war. He also defeated the [[Goths]], [[Vandals]], [[Juthungi]], [[Sarmatians]], and [[Carpi (people)|Carpi]]. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the [[Palmyrene Empire]] in 273. The following year he conquered the [[Gallic Empire]] in the west, reuniting the Empire in its entirety. He was also responsible for the construction of the [[Aurelian Walls]] in [[Rome]], the abandonment of the province of [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]], and monetary reforms attempting to curb the devaluation of the [[Roman currency]].

Although [[Domitian]], two centuries earlier, was the first emperor who had demanded to be officially hailed as {{lang|la|dominus et deus}} ('master and god'), these titles never occurred in written form on official documents until the reign of Aurelian.<ref>{{cite book | last=Halsberghe | first=G. H. | title=The Cult of Sol Invictus | publisher=Brill | series=Etudes préliminaires aux religions orientales dans l'Empire romain | year=1972 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tIUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA152 | access-date=2018-04-13 | page=152}}</ref> His successes were instrumental in ending the crisis.

== Early life==
Many details about Aurelian's early life come from the ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' and are considered unreliable. Comparative research with other sources from his era has rendered some details more secure than others. Aurelian was born on 9 September, a date recorded in the ''[[Chronograph of 354]]''.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=1}} The 6th-century chronicler [[John Malalas]] wrote that he died at the age of 61, implying a birth in 214.<ref>[[John Malalas]], [https://es.calameo.com/read/000675905f2f4bf509d49 Book 12, chapter 30.]</ref> However, Malalas' chronicle is often described as "frequently unreliable",<ref>{{Cite book |last=Croke |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RtMuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76 |title=Studies in John Malalas |date=1990 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-34462-4 |pages=76}}</ref> and so any date thence inferred must—absent corroborating evidence from more credible sources—remain tentative.

The ''Historia Augusta'' describes him both as a Pannonian from [[Sirmium]] and as a native of [[Dacia Ripensis]] "which he founded so that he would have been a Moesian". [[Aurelius Victor|Pseudo-Victor]] and [[John Xiphilinus (historian)|John Xiphilinus]] place his birthplace in an area between Dacia Ripensis and Macedonia (overlapping with [[Dacia Mediterranea]]). Modern research considers Dacia Ripensis as the more likely region. When he was born this region was part of [[Moesia Superior]]. Aurelian was an [[Illyrians|Illyrian]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Zachary |title=The Fall of Rome and the Rise of Constantinople |date=2015 |publisher=Cavendish Square |page=28 |isbn=978-1-5026-0574-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJFmDwAAQBAJ&dq=Aurelian+Illyrian&pg=PA28}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Kenneth |title=The Crest-Wave of Evolution A Course of Lectures in History, Given in the Raja-Yoga College, 1918-1919 |date=2009 |publisher=Floating Press |page=764 |isbn=978-1-77541-083-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guS_kIAIWfEC&dq=Aurelian+Illyrian&pg=PA764}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fine |first1=John V. A |title=When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans A Study of Identity in Pre-Nationalist Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia in the Medieval and Early-Modern Periods |date=2010 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |page=258 |isbn=978-0-472-02560-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&dq=Diocletian+illyrian&pg=PA258}}</ref> like several other emperors of the late 3rd century ([[Illyrian emperors]]) all of whom shared a common military background.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wijnendaele |first1=Jeroen W. P. |last2=Hanaghan |first2=Michael P. |title=Constantius heros (ILCV 66) – An elegiac testimony on the decline of the Late Roman West |page=273 |journal=Chiron |date=2021 |volume=51 |doi=10.1515/9783110742770-008 |isbn=9783110742770 |s2cid=244540886 |url=https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110742770-008}}</ref> [[Aurelius Victor|Pseudo-Victor]] describes his father as a ''[[Colonus (person)|colonus]]'' (tenant farmer) who worked the lands of a senator named Aurelius. Aurelian's father was probably a veteran of the Roman army. He married the daughter of Aurelius from whom Aurelian received his name via his mother. The ''Historia Augusta'' describes her as "priestess of [[Sol (Roman mythology)|Sol]]", whose worship Aurelian promoted as Emperor ([[Sol Invictus]]).{{sfn|Syvänne|2020|pp=29-30}} These two propositions, together with the tradition that the clan Aurelius had been entrusted with the maintenance of that deity's cult in Rome, inspired the notion that this could explain the devotion to the sun-god that Aurelian was to manifest as emperor. However, it seems that this extrapolation of unverifiable facts is now generally accepted as being no more than just that.{{sfn|Saunders|1992|p=107}}

==Military service==
It is commonly accepted that Aurelian likely joined the army in 235, when he was around the age of twenty.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=1}} It is also generally assumed that, as a member of the lowest rank of society {{ndash}} albeit a citizen{{efn|Had Aurelian's family been enfranchised by virtue of the ''[[Constitutio Antoniniana]]'' (212) his ''nomen'' would have been "Aurelius".}} {{ndash}} he would have enlisted in the ranks of the legions. Saunders suggests that his career is more easily understood if it is assumed that his family was of Roman settler origins with a tradition of military service and that he enlisted as an equestrian.{{sfn|Saunders|1992|p=109}} This would have opened up for him the ''tres militia'' {{ndash}} the three steps of the equestrian military career {{ndash}} one of the routes to higher equestrian office in the Imperial Service.{{efn|The ''tres militia'' were: (i) prefecture of a cohort of auxiliary infantry; (ii) tribunate of a legionary cohort; and (iii) prefecture of an ''ala'' of auxiliary cavalry.}} This could be a more expeditious route to senior military and [[Procurator (Roman)|procurator]]ial offices than that pursued by ex-rankers, although not necessarily less laborious.{{efn|Compare the career of [[Pertinax]] who pursued the ''Tres Militia'' with those of [[Publius Aelius Aelianus]], [[Lucius Aurelius Marcianus]] (both probably) and [[Traianus Mucianus]] (certainly) who rose ''e caliga'', i.e. through the ranks.}} Although Saunders's conjecture as to Aurelian's early career is not supported by any evidence other than his ''nomen'' which could indicate Italian settler ancestry — and even this is contested — his rise to the highest ranks is more easily understood if he did not have to start from the bottom. His suggestion has not been taken up by other academic authorities.

Whatever his origins, Aurelian certainly must have built up a very solid reputation for military competence during the tumultuous mid-decades of the century. To be sure, the exploits detailed in the ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' {{lang|la|vita Divi Aureliani}}, while not always impossible, are not supported by any independent evidence and one at least is demonstrably an invention typical of that author.<ref>For instance, ''vita Divi Aureliani'' paras 5.5–6, 6.3–5, and 7.1–2. If he ever was a tribune of a legion as suggested in 7.1–2 it could not have been with ''Legio VII Gallicana'' as that unit never existed.</ref> However, he was probably associated with [[Gallienus]]'s cavalry army and shone as an officer of that elite unit because, when he finally emerged in a historically reliable context in the early part of the reign of [[Claudius II]], he seems to have been its commander.{{sfn | Saunders| 1992| pp=129–130}}

===Ulpius Crinitus===
The existence of Ulpius Crinitus has been doubted by many [[historian]]s.<ref name=":1"/> If he did exist he would have been a ''[[dux]]'' of the [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyrian]] and [[Thracia]]n [[Roman legion|legions]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Syvänne|first=Ilkka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aE8IEAAAQBAJ&dq=aurelian+Ulpius+Crinitus+dux+illyria&pg=PT124|title=The Reign of Emperor Gallienus: The Apogee of Roman Cavalry|date=2019-05-30|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-5267-4522-4|language=en}}</ref> Ulpius was reportedly born in the city of [[Italica]], in modern [[Hispania|Spain]].<ref name=":2" /> He took an interest in Aurelian's early career.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Watson|first=Alaric|title=Aurelian and the Third Century|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2004|isbn=0-415-30187-4|location=New York|pages=113|language=en}}</ref> Aurelian was reportedly his deputy for a time. When a group of [[Crisis of the Third Century|Goths invaded]] Illyria and Thrace, Ulpius had fallen ill, so he ordered Aurelian to deal with the invaders. Aurelian was designated as [[Legatus|legate]] of the Third Legion. He used his force of 2,500 [[auxilia]]ries, and the armies of four [[Germanic kingship|Germanic chieftains]] to defeat the [[Goths]] in battle. Aurelian used the resources gained from the battles to enrich the [[Roman province|provinces]]. After the battle, Crinitus thanked [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], the emperor at the time, for providing him with such a talented deputy.<ref name=":1" /> Crinitus adopted Aurelian as his heir, either voluntarily or possibly through force.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web | title=ToposText| url=https://topostext.org/people/11063| access-date=2020-06-07| website=topostext.org}}</ref> Emperor Valerian attended the adoption ceremony which took place in the baths of Byzantium.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Watson|first=Alaric|title=Aurelian and the Third Century|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2004|isbn=0-415-30187-4|location=New York, NY|pages=172|language=en}}</ref> Following this, Crinitus disappeared from the historical record.<ref name=":1">{{harvp|White|2015|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=muBnCwAAQBAJ&q=Ulpius+Crinitus&pg=PP48] ???}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Hengst |first=Daniël den |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nPLbFiJoUWAC&q=Ulpius+Crinitus&pg=PA97 |title=Emperors and Historiography: Collected Essays on the Literature of the Roman Empire by Daniël Den Hengst |date=2010 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-900-417-438-2 |pages=91, 119, 204, 206 |language=en}}</ref> The Historia Augusta claims that Crinitus was portrayed, along with Aurelian, in the walls of the [[Temple of the Sun (Rome)|Temple of Sol]], ordered built by Aurelian after his successful Palmyrene campaign. However, no traces of this building remain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LacusCurtius: Templum Solis (Platner & Ashby, 1929) |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Templum_Solis.html |access-date=2020-06-23 |website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>

===Under Gallienus===
Aurelian's successes as a cavalry commander ultimately made him a member of Emperor [[Gallienus]]' entourage. In 268 Gallienus travelled to [[Roman Italy|Italy]] and fought [[Aureolus]], his former general and now usurper for the throne. Driving Aureolus back into [[Milan|Mediolanum]], Gallienus promptly besieged his adversary in the city. During the siege, the Emperor was assassinated. One source says Aurelian, who was present at the siege, participated and supported general Claudius for the purple — which is plausible.<ref>[[Aurelius Victor]], xxxiii,21. Other sources do not cite Aurelian among those who conspired against Gallienus, though different sources have claimed that he was the one who called Gallienus out of his tent under a proposed "conspiracy" at the point Gallienus was stabbed.</ref> In 268 or 269 Aurelian and his cavalry participated in the victory of Emperor Gallienus (or Emperor [[Claudius II Gothicus]]) over the [[Goths]] at the [[Battle of Naissus]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=41}}<ref>J. Bray (1997), pp. 279–288, Pat Southern 2001, p. 109. Also see Alaric Watson 1999, p. 215, David S. Potter 2004, p. 266, Herwig Wolfram, ''History of the Goths'' (transl. by Thomas J. Dunlap), University of California Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-520-06983-8}}, p. 54</ref>

Aurelian was married to [[Ulpia Severina]], about whom little is known. She was from [[Dacia (Roman province)|Dacia]].{{sfn|Watson|1999}} They are known to have had a daughter together.<ref name=re>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm|title= Aurelian (A.D. 270–275)|last1= Körner|first1= Christian|date= 23 December 2008 |encyclopedia= De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families|access-date=6 January 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101202042214/http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm| archive-date= 2 December 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

=== Under Claudius ===
Claudius was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers outside Mediolanum. The new emperor immediately ordered the Senate to deify Gallienus. Next, Claudius began to distance himself from those responsible for his predecessor's assassination, ordering the execution of those directly involved.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=42}} [[Aureolus]] was still besieged in Mediolanum and sought reconciliation with the new emperor, but Claudius had no sympathy for a potential rival. The emperor had Aureolus killed and one source implicates Aurelian in the deed, perhaps even signing the warrant for his death himself.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=42}}

During the reign of Claudius, Aurelian was promoted rapidly: he was given command of the elite Dalmatian cavalry and soon promoted to overall head of the army after the emperor and what had been Emperor Claudius' own position before his acclamation.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=42}} The war against Aureolus and the concentration of forces in Italy allowed the [[Alamanni]] to break through the [[Limes Germanicus|Rhaetian limes]] along the upper [[Danube]]. Marching through [[Raetia]] and the [[Alps]] unhindered, they entered northern Italy and began pillaging the area. In early 269, emperor Claudius and Aurelian marched north to meet the Alamanni, defeating them at the [[Battle of Lake Benacus]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=43}}

While still dealing with the defeated enemy, news came from the [[Balkans]] reporting large-scale attacks from the [[Heruli]], [[Goths]], [[Gepids]], and [[Bastarnae]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=43}} Claudius immediately dispatched Aurelian to the Balkans to contain the invasion as best he could until Claudius could arrive with his main army.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=44}} The Goths were besieging [[Thessalonica]] when they heard of emperor Claudius' approach, causing them to abandon the siege and pillage north-eastern Macedonia. Aurelian intercepted the Goths with his Dalmatian cavalry and defeated them in a series of minor skirmishes, killing as many as three thousand of the enemy. Aurelian continued to harass the enemy, driving them northward into [[Upper Moesia]] where emperor Claudius had assembled his main army. The ensuing battle was indecisive: the northward advance of the Goths was halted but Roman losses were heavy.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=44}}

Claudius could not afford another pitched battle, so he instead laid a successful ambush, killing thousands. However, the majority of the Goths escaped and began retreating south the way they had come. For the rest of year, Aurelian harassed the enemy with his Dalmatian cavalry.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=45}}

[[Image:Carska palata Sirmijum1.JPG|thumb|Ruins of Imperial Palace at [[Sirmium]], today in [[Sremska Mitrovica]]]]
Now stranded in Roman territory, the Goths' lack of provisions began to take its toll. Aurelian, sensing his enemies' desperation, attacked them with the full force of his cavalry, killing many and driving the remainder westward into [[Thrace]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=45}} As winter set in, the Goths retreated into the [[Haemus Mons|Haemus Mountains]], only to find themselves trapped and surrounded. The harsh conditions now exacerbated their shortage of food. However, the Romans underestimated the Goths and let their guard down, allowing the enemy to break through their lines and escape. Apparently emperor Claudius ignored advice, perhaps from Aurelian, and withheld the cavalry and sent in only the infantry to stop their break-out.

The determined Goths killed many of the oncoming infantry and were only prevented from slaughtering them all when Aurelian finally charged in with his Dalmatian cavalry. The Goths still managed to escape and continued their march through Thrace.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=45}} The Roman army continued to follow the Goths during the spring and summer of 270. Meanwhile, a devastating plague swept through the Balkans, killing many soldiers in both armies.

Emperor Claudius fell ill on the march to the battle and returned to his regional headquarters in Sirmium, leaving Aurelian in charge of operations against the Goths.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=45}} Aurelian used his cavalry to great effect, breaking the Goths into smaller groups which were easier to handle. By late summer the Goths were defeated: any survivors were stripped of their animals and booty and were levied into the army or settled as farmers in frontier regions.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=45}} Aurelian had no time to relish his victories; in late August news arrived from Sirmium that emperor Claudius was dead.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=46}}

==Emperor==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}

=== Rise to power ===
When Claudius died, his brother [[Quintillus]] seized power with support of the Senate. With an act typical of the [[Crisis of the Third Century]], the army refused to recognize the new emperor, preferring to support one of its own commanders: Aurelian was proclaimed emperor about August or September{{sfn|Peachin|1990|pp=43–44}}{{sfn|Kienast|2017|p=222}} (older sources argue for May){{sfn|Stein|pp=46, 50}} by the [[Roman legion|legion]]s in Sirmium. Aurelian defeated Quintillus' troops, and was recognized as emperor by the Senate after Quintillus' death. The claim that Aurelian was chosen by Claudius on his death bed{{sfn|Zonaras}} can be dismissed as propaganda; later, probably in 272, Aurelian put his own ''dies imperii'' at the day of Claudius' death, thus implicitly considering Quintillus a [[Roman usurper|usurper]].<ref name="korner">Korner.</ref>

With his base of power secure, he now turned his attention to Rome's greatest problems – recovering the vast territories lost over the previous two decades, and reforming the ''[[res publica]]''.

===The Roman Empire in the 270s===
[[Image:Aureliancoin1.jpg|thumb|right|312x312px|Aurelian was a military commander, and during his reign he tried to keep legions' fidelity; this coin celebrated the CONCORDIA MILITVM, "concord of the soldiers" – in other words, harmony between the emperor and the military. Legend: IMP. C. AVRELIANVS AVG. / CONCORDIA MILITVM – XXIQ mint]]
In 248, Emperor [[Philip the Arab]] had celebrated the millennium of the city of Rome with great and expensive ceremonies and games, and the Empire had given a tremendous proof of self-confidence.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Magh|first=David|title=Historia Augusta|publisher=Loeb Classical Library|volume=II}}</ref> In the following years, the Empire had to face a huge pressure from external enemies, while, at the same time, dangerous civil wars threatened the empire from within, with usurpers weakening the strength of the state. Also, the economic substrate of the state, agriculture and commerce, suffered from the disruption caused by the instability. On top of this, an epidemic swept through the Empire around 250, greatly diminishing manpower<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/solving-the-mystery-of-an-ancient-roman-plague/543528/|title = Solving the Mystery of an Ancient Roman Plague|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = November 2017}}</ref> both for the army and for agriculture.

The end result was that the Empire could not endure the blow of the capture of Emperor [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]] in 260 by the [[Sassanids]]. The eastern provinces found their protectors in the rulers of the city of [[Palmyra]], in [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]], whose autonomy grew until the formation of the [[Palmyrene Empire]], which was successful in defending against the Sassanid threat. The western provinces, those facing the ''[[Limes (Roman Empire)|limes]]'' of the [[Rhine]], seceded to form a third, autonomous state within the territories of the Roman Empire, which is now known as the [[Gallic Empire]].

In Rome, the Emperor was occupied with internal menaces to his power and with the defence of [[Italia (Roman province)|Italia]] and the Balkans.

===Reunification of the empire===
The first actions of the new Emperor were aimed at strengthening his own position in his territories. Late in 270, Aurelian campaigned in northern [[Italia (Roman province)|Italia]] against the [[Vandals]], [[Juthungi]], and [[Sarmatians]], expelling them from Roman territory. To celebrate these victories, Aurelian was granted the title of ''Germanicus Maximus''.<ref>Zosimus, 1,48f.; Eutropius; [[Dexippus]], FGrH IIA 460 F7; ''Historia Augusta – Aurelianus'' xxi,1–3 and xviii,2.</ref> The authority of the Emperor was challenged by several [[roman usurper|usurpers]]—[[Septimius (Roman emperor usurper)|Septimius]], [[Urbanus (Roman usurper)|Urbanus]], [[Domitian II|Domitianus]], and the rebellion of [[Felicissimus]]—who tried to exploit the sense of insecurity of the empire and the overwhelming influence of the armies in Roman politics. Aurelian, being an experienced commander, was aware of the importance of the army, and his propaganda, known through his coinage, shows he wanted the support of the legions.<ref name=korner />

====Defending Italy against the [[Juthungi]]====
[[Image:Porta Asinaria 2948.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Porta Asinaria]], a gate in the [[Aurelian Walls]]]]
The burden of the northern barbarians was not yet over, however. In 271, the [[Alamanni]] moved towards Italia, entering the [[Po Valley|Po plain]] and sacking the villages; they passed the [[Po River]], occupied [[Piacenza|Placentia]] and moved towards [[Fano]]. Aurelian, who was in Pannonia to control the [[Vandals]]' withdrawal, quickly entered Italia, but his army was defeated in an [[Battle of Placentia (271)|ambush near Placentia]] (January 271). When the news of the defeat arrived in Rome, it caused great fear for the arrival of the barbarians, but Aurelian attacked the Alamanni camping near the [[Metauro|Metaurus River]], defeating them in the [[Battle of Fano]], and forcing them to re-cross the Po river; Aurelian finally routed them at [[Battle of Pavia (271)|Pavia]]. For this, he received the title ''Germanicus Maximus''. However, the menace of the Germanic people and a Germanic invasion was still perceived by the Romans as likely; therefore Aurelian resolved to build a new system of walls around [[Rome]] that became known as the [[Aurelian Walls]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|pp=51–54, 217}}

====Defeat of the Goths and abandonment of Dacia====
The emperor led his legions to the Balkans, where he defeated and routed the Goths beyond the Danube, killing the Gothic leader [[Cannabaudes]], and assuming the title of ''Gothicus Maximus''. However, he decided to abandon the province of [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]], on the exposed north bank of the Danube, as it was too difficult and expensive to defend. He reorganized a new province of Dacia south of the Danube, inside the former [[Moesia]], called [[Dacia Aureliana]], with [[Serdica]] as the capital.{{sfn|Watson|1999|pp=54–55}}

====Conquest of the Palmyrene Empire====
[[Image:Map of Ancient Rome 271 AD.svg|thumb|right|The Roman Empire by 271 A.D before the reconquest of the [[Palmyrene Empire]] and the [[Gallic Empire]] by Aurelian]]
[[File:AurelianusPalmyra272.png|thumb|The route of Aurelian's campaign against Palmyra.]]

In 272, Aurelian turned his attention to the lost eastern provinces of the empire, the [[Palmyrene Empire]], ruled by Queen [[Zenobia]] from the city of [[Palmyra]].<ref>The war against the Palmyrene Empire is described in Zosimus, 1,50,1–1,61,1, and ''Historia Augusta'', ''Aurelianus'', 22–31.</ref> Zenobia had carved out her own empire, encompassing [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]], [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Egypt (Roman province)|Egypt]] and large parts of [[Asia Minor]]. The Syrian queen cut off Rome's shipments of grain, and in a matter of weeks, the Romans started running low on bread. In the beginning, Aurelian had been recognized as Emperor, while [[Vaballathus]], the son of Zenobia, held the title of {{lang|la|rex}} and {{lang|la|imperator}} ("king" and "supreme military commander"), but Aurelian decided to invade the eastern provinces as soon as he felt his army to be strong enough.

Asia Minor was recovered easily; every city but [[Byzantium]] and [[Tyana]] surrendered to him with little resistance. The [[Siege of Tyana (272)|fall of Tyana]] lent itself to a legend: Aurelian to that point had destroyed every city that resisted him, but he spared Tyana after having a vision of the great 1st-century philosopher [[Apollonius of Tyana]], whom he respected greatly, in a dream. Apollonius implored: "Aurelian, if you desire to rule, abstain from the blood of the innocent! Aurelian, if you will conquer, be merciful!"<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stoneman |first1=Richard |title=Palmyra and its Empire: Zenobia's Revolt against Rome |date=1994 |pages=167 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=0472083155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8kLFfE1qPhIC&pg=PA167}}</ref> Aurelian spared Tyana, and it paid off; many more cities submitted to him upon seeing that the Emperor would not exact revenge upon them. Within six months, his armies stood at the gates of Palmyra, which surrendered when Zenobia tried to flee to the [[Sassanid Empire]].

[[Image:Antoninianus-Aurelianus-Palmyra-s3262.jpg|left|thumb|313x313px|Aurelian and the personification of [[Helios#Roman mythology|Sol]] defeat the Palmyrene Empire, and celebrates ORIENS AVG – {{lang|la|oriens Augusti}}: the rising sun/star of Augustus. Legend: IMP. AVRELIANVS AVG. / ORIENS AVG. – XIR.]]
Eventually Zenobia and her son were captured and made to walk the streets of Rome in his triumph, the woman in golden chains. With the grain stores once again shipped to Rome, Aurelian's soldiers handed out free bread to the citizens of the city, and the Emperor was hailed a hero by his subjects. After a brief clash with the Persians and another in Egypt against the usurper [[Firmus]], Aurelian was obliged to return to Palmyra in 273 when that city rebelled once more. This time, Aurelian allowed his soldiers to sack the city, and Palmyra never recovered. More honors came his way; he was now known as {{lang|la|Parthicus Maximus}} and {{lang|la|Restitutor Orientis}} ("Restorer of the East").<ref name=korner />

He took up the title {{lang|la|Restitutor Orbis}} ("Restorer of the World"). This title was first assumed by Aurelian in late summer of 272, and had been carried previously by both Valerian and Gallienus.{{sfn|Watson|1999}}{{efn|This title had also been attested in the epigraphs of [[Gordian III]] and Philip.<ref>{{cite book|last=Brent|first=Allen|editor-first=Mark|editor-last=Edwards|title=The Routledge Handbook of Early Christian Philosophy|year=2021|p=376|isbn=9781134855988}}</ref>}} The increased frequency of its usage was Aurelian's innovation.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=174}}

The rich province of Egypt was also recovered by Aurelian. The Brucheion (Royal Quarter) in Alexandria was burned to the ground. This section of the city once contained the [[Library of Alexandria]], although the extent of the surviving Library in Aurelian's time is uncertain.

====Conquest of the Gallic Empire====
In 274, the victorious emperor turned his attention to the west, and the [[Gallic Empire]] which had already been reduced in size by [[Claudius Gothicus|Claudius II]]. Aurelian won this campaign largely through diplomacy; the "Gallic Emperor" [[Tetricus I|Tetricus]] was willing to abandon his throne and allow Gaul and Britain to return to the Empire, but could not openly submit to Aurelian. Instead, the two seem to have conspired so that when the armies met at the [[Battle of Châlons (274)|Battle of Châlons]] [[Châlons-en-Champagne|at Durocatalaunum]] that autumn, Tetricus simply deserted to the Roman camp and Aurelian easily defeated the Gallic army facing him.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goldsworthy |first1=Adrian Keith |title=How Rome fell: death of a superpower |date=2009 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New haven (Conn.) |isbn=978-0-300-13719-4 |pages=118–119}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gibbon |first1=Edward |title=The decline and fall of the Roman empire. Volume I |date=1993 |publisher=Everyman's Library |location=New York |isbn=978-0-679-42308-9 |page=332 |edition=[New.], 10. printing}}</ref> Tetricus was rewarded for his collusion by Aurelian who made him a [[Roman senator|senator]] and {{lang|la|[[Corrector#Roman Antiquity|corrector]]}} (governor) of [[Roman Italy#Augustan organization|Lucania et Bruttium]].
[[File:Radiate of Aurelian (YORYM 2001 9658) obverse.jpg|thumb|upright|A Radiate of Aurelian, obverse. Legend: IMP. AVRELIANVS AVG.]]
[[File:Radiate of Aurelian (YORYM 2001 9658) reverse.jpg|thumb|upright|A Radiate of Aurelian, reverse. Legend: ORIENS AVG. – EXXI.]]
In four years, Aurelian had secured the frontiers of the Empire and reunified it.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Reforms===
Aurelian was a reformer, and settled many important functions of the imperial apparatus, dealing with the economy and religion. He restored many public buildings, reorganized the management of the food reserves, set fixed prices for the most important goods, and prosecuted misconduct by the public officers.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Aurelian|volume=2|pages=923–924}}</ref>

====Religious reform====
Aurelian strengthened the position of the Sun god [[Sol Invictus]] as the main divinity of the Roman pantheon. His intention was to give to all the peoples of the Empire, civilian or soldiers, easterners or westerners, a single god they could believe in without betraying their own gods. The centre of the cult was [[Temple of the Sun (Rome)|a new temple]], built in 274 and dedicated on December 25<ref>{{Cite book|title=Die römischen Kaiser : 55 historische Portraits von Caesar bis Iustinian|last=Clauss|first=Manfred|publisher=Beck|year=2001|isbn=978-3-406-47288-6|location=München|pages=250|language=de}}</ref> of that year in the [[Campus Agrippae]] in Rome, with great decorations financed by the spoils of the Palmyrene Empire.

During his short rule, Aurelian seemed to follow the principle of "one faith, one empire", which would not be made official until the [[Edict of Thessalonica]]. He appears with the title ''deus et dominus natus'' ("God and born ruler") on some of his coins, a style also later adopted by Diocletian. [[Lactantius]] argued that Aurelian would have outlawed all the other gods if he had had enough time. He was recorded by Christian historians as having organized [[Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire|persecutions]].<ref>[[Lactantius]], ''De Mortibus Persecutorum'' 6.</ref><ref>[[Eusebius]], ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' 7.30.20</ref><ref>[[Jerome]], ''Chronicon'', 263rd Olympiad</ref><ref>[[Orosius]], ''Historiarum'', Book 7, Chapter 23</ref>

====Felicissimus' rebellion and coinage reform====
Aurelian's reign records the only uprising of mint workers. The ''[[rationalis]]'' [[Felicissimus]], a senior public financial official whose responsibilities included supervision of the mint at Rome, revolted against Aurelian. The revolt seems to have been caused by the fact that the mint workers, and Felicissimus first, were accustomed to stealing the silver for the coins and producing coins of inferior quality. Aurelian wanted to eliminate this, and put Felicissimus on trial. The {{lang|la|rationalis}} incited the mint workers to revolt: the rebellion spread in the streets, even if it seems that Felicissimus was killed immediately, presumably executed.

The Palmyrene rebellion in Egypt had probably reduced the [[Grain supply to the city of Rome|grain supply to Rome]], thus disaffecting the population to the emperor. This rebellion also had the support of some senators, probably those who had supported the election of [[Quintillus]], and thus had something to fear from Aurelian.

Aurelian ordered the ''[[cohortes urbanae]]'' ("urban cohorts"), reinforced by some regular troops of the imperial army, to attack the rebelling mob: the resulting battle, fought on the [[Caelian hill]], marked the end of the revolt, even if at a high price (some sources give the figure, probably exaggerated, of 7,000 casualties).<ref name="EB1911"/> Many of the rebels were executed; also some of the supporting senators were put to death. The mint of Rome was closed temporarily, and the institution of several other mints caused the main mint of the empire to lose its hegemony.{{sfn|Watson|1999|pp=52–53}}

His monetary reformation included the introduction of ''[[antoninianus|antoniniani]]'' containing 5% silver. They bore the mark <small>XXI</small> (or its Greek numeral form <small>KA</small>), which meant - according to some researchers<ref>On the different theories regarding the XXI see Schwenter, Johannes (2023). "Aurelians Münzreform - das Kürzel XXI" [Aurelian's coin reform - the abbreviation XXI]. ''Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte'' '''73''', pp. 195-204.</ref> - that twenty of such coins would contain the same silver quantity of an old silver ''[[denarius]]''.{{sfn|Watson|1999|p=130}}{{efn|Later emperors [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]] and [[Carus]] would mint coins with the legends XI or IA, signalling a 10% of silver in the alloy.}} Considering that this was an improvement over the previous situation gives an idea of the severity of the economic situation Aurelian faced. The Emperor struggled to introduce the new "good" coin by recalling all the old "bad" coins before their introduction.<ref name=korner />

A very large number of rare gold coins of Aurelian have been discovered as part of the [[Lava Treasure]] in [[Corsica]], France, in the 1980s.<ref>Sylvianne Estiot, [http://www.sacra-moneta.com/images/lava.pdf ''The Lava Treasure of Roman Gold''.] Also in ''Trésors monétaires, volume XXIV'', BNF, 2011 {{Isbn|9782717724929}}</ref>

==== Food distribution reforms ====
Rome had been distributing grain to its poorest citizens at a reduced price since 123 BC, and for free since 58 BC through the ''[[Cura Annonae]]''. Aurelian is usually credited with changing or completing the change of the food distribution system from grain or flour to bread, and adding olive oil, salt, and pork to the products distributed to the populace. These products had been distributed sporadically before. Aurelian is also credited with increasing the size of the loaves of bread without increasing their price – a measure that was undoubtedly popular with the Romans who were not receiving free bread and other products through the dole.<ref>Watson, Alaric (2004), ''Aurelian and the Third Century'', London: Routledge, pp, 139-140</ref>

Aurelian is believed to have terminated [[Trajan]]'s ''[[alimenta]]'' program. Roman prefect [[Titus Flavius Postumius Quietus]] was the last known official in charge of the ''alimenta'', in 271. If Aurelian "did suppress this food distribution system, he most likely intended to put into effect a more radical reform." Indeed, around this time, Aurelian reformed the Cura Annonae to replace the dole of grain by a dole of bread, salt and pork, as well as subsidized prices for other goods such as oil and wine.<ref>Pat Southern, ''The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine'' (London: Routledge, 2015), {{ISBN|978-0-415-73807-1}}, page 181.</ref>

== Death ==
[[File:Moneda (24703353530).jpg|thumb|Aureus of Aurelian.]]
The deaths of the Sassanid Kings [[Shapur I]] (272) and [[Hormizd I]] (273) in quick succession, and the rise to power of a weakened ruler ([[Bahram I]]), presented an opportunity to attack the Sassanid Empire, and in 275 Aurelian set out for another campaign against the Sassanids. On his way, he suppressed a revolt in [[Roman Gaul|Gaul]] – possibly against Faustinus, an officer or usurper of Tetricus – and defeated barbarian marauders in [[Vindelicia]] ([[Germania|Germany]]).

However, Aurelian never reached Persia, as he was murdered while waiting in Thrace to cross into Asia Minor. As an administrator, he had been strict and had handed out severe punishments to corrupt officials or soldiers. A secretary of his (called Eros by [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]]) had told a lie on a minor issue. In fear of what the emperor might do, he forged a document listing the names of high officials marked by the emperor for execution and showed it to collaborators. The ''notarius'' Mucapor and other high-ranking officers of the [[Praetorian Guard]], fearing punishment from the emperor, murdered him shortly after October 275 ([[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]] began his reign in November or December), in [[Caenophrurium]], [[Thrace (Roman province)|Thrace]].{{sfn|Watson|1999|pp=104-105, 225}}{{sfn|Peachin|1990|pp=43–44}}

Aurelian's enemies in the Senate briefly succeeded in passing ''[[damnatio memoriae]]'' on the emperor, but this was reversed before the end of the year, and Aurelian, like his predecessor Claudius II, was deified as {{lang|la|Divus Aurelianus}}.

There is some evidence that Aurelian's wife, [[Ulpia Severina]], who had been declared ''[[Augusta (honorific)|Augusta]]'' in 274, ruled the empire in her own right for some time after his death, although this is just speculative.{{sfn|Watson|1999|pp=113-116}}<ref name=re/> Sources hint at an [[interregnum]] between Aurelian's death and the election of [[Tacitus (emperor)|Marcus Claudius Tacitus]] as his successor. Additionally, some of Ulpia's coins appear to have been minted after Aurelian's death.<ref name=re />

== Legacy ==

The city of [[Orléans]] in France is named after Aurelian. Originally named [[Cenabum]], Aurelian rebuilt and renamed it ''Aurelianum'' or ''Aureliana Civitas'' ("city of Aurelian", ''cité d'Aurélien''), which evolved into ''Orléans''.<ref>For an exact etymology, see {{cite book | last=Debal | first=Jacques | title=Cenabum, Aurelianis, Orléans | publisher=Presses universitaires de Lyon | publication-place=Lyon | year=1996 | isbn=978-2-7297-0554-1}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Primary sources===
* [[Aurelius Victor]] ''Epitome de Caesaribus'', xxxv "Epitome de Caesaribus" (4th century)
* [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], ''Breviarium historiae Romanae'', IX. 13–15 (4th century)
* ''[[Historia Augusta]] Aurelianus Life of Aurelian Part 1 Part 2 Part 3''
* [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]], ''Historia Nova'' Translation of the ''Historia Nova'' (published in 1814), book 1, (5th–6th century)
* {{wikicite|reference=[[Joannes Zonaras]], ''Compendium of History'' Compendium excerpt: Claudius to Diocletian 268–284 (12th century) |ref={{sfnref|Zonaras}}}}

===Secondary sources===
* {{wikicite |reference=[[Edmund Groag|Groag, Edmund]], "[[s:de:RE:Domitius 36|Domitius 36]]", ''[[Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft]]'', volume 9 (V.1), Metzlerscher Verlag (Stuttgart, 1903), columns 1347–1419.|ref={{sfnref|Groag}} }}
* {{cite book|last=Kienast|first=D.|title=Römische Kaisertabelle. Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie|location=Darmstadt|date=2017|publisher=Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft|isbn=9783534132898|url=https://archive.org/details/romische-kaisertabelle/page/n122/mode/1up?view=theater}}
* {{cite journal | author = Körner, Christian | date = 2001-07-20 | title = Aurelian | journal = De Imperatoribus Romanis | url = http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm | access-date = 2006-11-04 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061020202036/http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm| archive-date= 20 October 2006 | url-status= live}} (Korner:2001)
* {{cite book|last=Saunders|first=Randall Titus|title=A biography of the Emperor Aurelian (AD 270–275)|year=1992|publisher=UMI Dissertation Services|location=Ann Arbor, Michigan}}
* {{cite book |last=Southern |first=Pat |title=The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine |year=2001 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-23944-3 |pages=125}}
* {{cite book |last=Peachin |first=Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/ritac235/page/n33/mode/1up?view=theater |title=Roman Imperial Titulature and Chronology, A.D. 235–284 |publisher=Gieben |year=1990 |isbn=90-5063-034-0 |place=Amsterdam}}
* {{cite journal |last=Stein |year=1924 |first=Arthur |title=Zur Chronologie der römischen Kaiser von Decius bis Diocletian |journal=Archiv für Papyrusforschung und verwandte Gebiete |volume=7 |issue=1–2 |pages=30–51 |doi=10.1515/apf.1924.7.1-2.30 |s2cid=161464046 |author-link=Arthur Stein (historian) |ref={{sfnref|Stein}} }}
*{{Cite book|last=Syvänne|first=Ilkka|title=Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who Saved Rome|publisher=Pen and Sword Military|year=2020|isbn=978-1-5267-6750-9|location=Yorkshire|language=en}}
* {{cite book |last=Watson |year=1999 |first=Alaric |title=Aurelian and the Third Century |series=The Classical World |volume=94 |issue=3 |pages=284–286 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.2307/4352566 |jstor=4352566 |place=London |isbn=0-415-07248-4 |s2cid=153920517 |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8c91/960944f3f731ece4c99828c0e0e4f9f01c64.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218093748/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8c91/960944f3f731ece4c99828c0e0e4f9f01c64.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-02-18 }}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | last=White | first=John | title=The Roman Emperor Aurelian: Restorer of the World | publisher=Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors| year=2015 | isbn=978-1-4738-4569-5 |url= https://archive.org/details/romanemperoraure0000whit/page/138/mode/2up?view=theater}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Aurelianus}}
* [http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/aurelian/t.html Aurelian coinage], at Wildwinds.com
* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm On coins of Aurelian with the title ''dominus et deus'' (Section 1.9)]

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Quintillus]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Roman emperor]]
| years = 270–275
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Tacitus (emperor)|Tacitus]]
}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Flavius Antiochianus]]
| before2 = [[Virius Orfitus]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Roman consul]]
| years = 271
| regent1 = [[Pomponius Bassus (consul 259)|Pomponius Bassus]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Titus Flavius Postumius Quietus|T. Flavius Postumius Quietus]]
| after2 = [[Junius Veldumnianus]]
}}

{{s-bef
| before = [[Tacitus (emperor)|M. Claudius Tacitus]]
| before2 = [[Placidianus|Julius Placidianus]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Roman consul]]
| years = 274–275
| regent1 = Capitolinus (274)
| regent2 = Marcellinus (275)
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Tacitus (emperor)|M. Claudius Tacitus]] II
| after2 = Aemilianus II
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Roman emperors}}
{{Pharaohs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:210s births]]

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[[Category:3rd-century murdered monarchs]]
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[[Category:Ancient assassinated people]]
[[Category:Aurelian| ]]
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[[Category:Deified Roman emperors]]
[[Category:Domitii|Aurelianus, Lucius]]
[[Category:Gothicus Maximus]]
[[Category:Illyrian emperors]]
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[[Category:3rd-century Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Murdered Roman emperors]]
[[Category:People from Sirmium]]
[[Category:Roman emperors murdered by the Praetorian Guard]]
[[Category:Roman emperors to suffer posthumous denigration or damnatio memoriae]]
[[Category:Damnatio memoriae]]