Laelian (/leɪliən/; Latin: Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus),[1] also incorrectly referred to as Lollianus and Aelianus,[2] was a usurper against Postumus, the emperor of the Gallic Empire. His revolt lasted from approximately late February to early June 269.[2]
| Laelian | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Laelian on an aureus. Caption: IMP. C. LAELIANVS P. F. AVG. | |||||
| Gallic usurper | |||||
| Reign | approximately late February to early June 269 (against Postumus) | ||||
| Predecessor | Postumus | ||||
| Successor | Marcus Aurelius Marius | ||||
| Born | Gaul | ||||
| Died | 269 | ||||
| |||||
Origins edit
Little is known about Laelian. He shares the same nomen as a prominent Hispano-Roman family, the Ulpii, that included Trajan among its members, and may have been a relative.[2] This is supported by the strong allusion to Hispania on an aureus he struck, which featured the design of Hispania reclining with a rabbit to her side. If he indeed was a relative, this may be the reason Hispania allied itself with Claudius II, after the death of Laelian, seemingly without a struggle.[citation needed]
Rule edit
Laelian declared himself emperor at Moguntiacum (modern-day Mainz in Germany) in February/March 269,[3] after repulsing a Germanic invasion.[4] Although his exact position is unknown, he is believed to have been a senior officer under Postumus,[5] either the legatus of Germania Superior or the commander of Legio XXII Primigenia.[2] Laelian represented a strong danger to Postumus because of the two legions he commanded (Primigenia in Moguntiacum and VIII Augusta in Argentoratum);[2] Despite this, his rebellion lasted only about two months before he was executed,[6] reputedly by his own soldiers, or by Postumus' troops after a siege of Laelian's capital.[1] The siege of Moguntiacum was also fatal for Postumus; it is said he was slain when he refused to allow his troops to plunder the city following its capture.[7]
Laelian (under the Latin name Lollianus) is listed among the Thirty Tyrants in the Historia Augusta.
See also edit
References edit
Sources edit
Primary sources edit
- Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus
- Eutropius, Brevarium, Book 9
- Historia Augusta, The Thirty Tyrants
Secondary sources edit
- Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine, Routledge, 2001
- Potter, David Stone, The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180-395, Routledge, 2004
- Jones, A.H.M., Martindale, J.R. The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Vol. I: AD260-395, Cambridge University Press, 1971
- Michel Polfer, "Laelianus (A.D. 269)", De Imperatoribus Romanis] (1999)
External links edit
Media related to Laelianus at Wikimedia Commons
