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Gallienus Biography

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GALLIENUS, PUBLIUS LICINIUS (?-268 A.D.). Roman Emperor, 253-268 A.D. He was made joint ruler on the accession of his father, Valerian (q.v.), in August, 253. In 256 he took the field against the Alemanni, who were making incursions into the Roman provinces along the Danube. After several campaigns they were subdued in 258, but they rose again soon after and forced their way into Italy, where Gallienus gained a victory over them near Milan. (See ALEMANNI.) Meanwhile Valerian had been engaged in wars with Shapur, or Sapor, the Persian King, by whom he was taken prisoner in 260. Gallienus now became sole Emperor, but only in name; for self-appointed rulers arose in all parts of the Empire, this period being for that reason known in history as the "Reign of the Thirty Tyrants." Gaul became practically a separate kingdom under Postumus (258-267) . The reign of Gallienus was a period of incessant turmoil until, in an attack on Milan, where he was besieging the usurper Aureolus, he was killed in a plot formed by some of his own officers.

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. IX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 421.