- Latin in full:
- Lucius Domitius Aurelianus
- Born:
- c. 215
- Died:
- 275, near Byzantium [now Istanbul, Turkey]
- Title / Office:
- emperor (270-275), Roman Empire
Aurelian
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Who was Aurelian?
Aurelian was a Roman emperor who reigned from 270 to 275 CE. Born around 215 CE near the Danube River, he rose through the ranks of the army, distinguishing himself as an officer. Aurelian is known for reuniting the Roman Empire, which had been fragmented by invasions and internal revolts. For this achievement, he adopted the title restitutor orbis, meaning "restorer of the world." Aurelian quelled revolts, expelled invaders, constructed defensive walls around Rome, and recovered eastern provinces from the princes of Palmyra. In 274, he defeated Tetricus, a rival emperor who controlled Gaul, Spain, and Britain, thus restoring central authority over the vast empire. Aurelian was murdered in early 275 by officers who believed they were marked for execution.
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What was Aurelian known for during his time as Roman emperor?
Aurelian, Roman emperor from 270 to 275 CE, was known for reuniting the Roman empire, which had been fragmented by invasions and internal revolts. For this achievement, he earned the title restitutor orbis ("restorer of the world").
Aurelian's key accomplishments:
* Military Victories He expelled the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy and defeated the Carpi along the Danube.
* Restoration of the Empire Aurelian reconquered the eastern provinces from the princes of Palmyra, defeating Zenobia, and later crushing a revolt in Palmyra in 273. He also defeated Tetricus, who controlled Gaul, Spain, and Britain, reuniting the empire under a central authority.
* Infrastructure To protect Rome from tribal incursions, Aurelian ordered the construction of a new city wall around Rome, which still stands today and bears his name.
* Religious Policy Aurelian attempted to unify the empire through the cult of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus).3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When did Aurelian rule the Roman Empire?
Aurelian was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275 CE. Assuming the throne in September 270 CE, Aurelian quickly focused on restoring Roman authority in Europe, pushing back the Vandals from Pannonia and expelling the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy.
To protect against tribal incursions, he ordered a new city wall around Rome. By 271 CE, he moved to recover the eastern provinces, capturing Septimia Zenobia, and later destroying Palmyra after a revolt in 273 CE. In 274 CE, Aurelian defeated Tetricus, reuniting the vast empire under a central authority. He withdrew Roman troops from Dacia, resettling them south of the Danube for better defense. Early in 275 CE, Aurelian was murdered by officers while campaigning against Persia.
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What challenges did Aurelian face while ruling the empire?
During his rule as Roman emperor from 270 to 275 CE, Aurelian faced numerous challenges, including invasions and internal revolts, which had caused the empire to virtually disintegrate.
Aurelian had to restore Roman authority in Europe by turning back the Vandals and expelling the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy. He also quelled a revolt at the imperial mint and ordered the construction of a new city wall around Rome for protection against tribal incursions.
In the east, Aurelian confronted the breakaway Palmyrene Empire, defeating Zenobia and recapturing Palmyra after a revolt. He also faced economic difficulties, including attempts to reform the debased silver coinage and quell a riot of artisans in the mints of Rome.
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How did Aurelian reunite and strengthen the Roman Empire?
Aurelian, Roman Emperor from 270 to 275, reunited a fragmented empire facing invasions and internal revolts, earning the title restitutor orbis ("restorer of the world").
To restore Roman authority, Aurelian expelled the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy and quelled a revolt at the imperial mint. He ordered the construction of a new city wall around Rome for protection against tribal incursions.
Aurelian defeated Zenobiaâs troops and occupied Palmyra in 272 to recover the eastern provinces. After a revolt in Egypt, Aurelian plundered Palmyra and subjugated Alexandria. Aurelian defeated Tetricus near Cabillonum, restoring the empire's unity. He withdrew Roman troops from Dacia, resettling soldiers south of the Danube for defensible boundaries.
Aurelian reestablished discipline, quelled a riot in Rome's mints, organized city provisioning, and minted sound coinage to halt inflation. He declared himself the protégé of Sol Invictus to strengthen moral unity, building a temple for this god.
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What was Aurelianâs legacy and how did he influence the future of Rome?
Aurelian, Roman emperor from 270 to 275 CE, left a legacy as restitutor orbis ("restorer of the world") for reuniting a fractured empire beset by invasions and internal revolts.
Aurelian's key actions and influences:
* Military achievements He expelled the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy, recovered the eastern provinces from Palmyra, and defeated Tetricus, who controlled Gaul, Spain, and Britain, restoring the empire's central authority.
* Defensive measures He constructed a new city wall around Rome for protection against tribal incursions.
* Strategic decisions Recognizing the need for defensible boundaries, he withdrew Roman troops from Dacia.
* Administrative reforms He increased the distribution of free food in Rome and attempted to reform the silver coinage.
* Religious policy He attempted to subordinate the empire's religions to the cult of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) to create religious unity.Aurelian's reign, though brief, was pivotal in stabilizing the Roman Empire and setting the stage for later transformations under emperors like Diocletian.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Aurelian (born c. 215âdied 275, near Byzantium [now Istanbul, Turkey]) was a Roman emperor from 270 to 275. By reuniting the empire, which had virtually disintegrated under the pressure of invasions and internal revolts, he earned his self-adopted title restitutor orbis (ârestorer of the worldâ).
Aurelian, born near the Danube River, had established himself as an army officer when, about 260, from outside pressure and internal fragmentation of authority, the frontiers of the empire suddenly collapsed. With his compatriot Claudius, Aurelian led the cavalry of the emperor Gallienus (253â268), and, upon Gallienusâs assassination in 268, Claudius became emperor. The new ruler quickly suppressed the rebellion of the usurper Aureolus, but, after a reign of 18 months, Claudius died. His brother Quintillus, who ruled about three months, died or was killed, and in September 270 Aurelian succeeded as emperor.
Aurelian quickly set about restoring Roman authority in Europe. He turned back the Vandals from Pannonia (in present-day central Europe) and after a series of battles expelled the Alemanni and Juthungi from northern Italy and chased the Juthungi across the Danube. Returning to Rome, he quelled a revolt at the imperial mint. For protection against tribal incursions, the emperor ordered the construction of a new city wall around Rome, much of which still stands and still bears his name.
In 271 he sought to recover the eastern provinces, which for 10 years had obeyed the rule of the princes of Palmyra. He besieged Palmyra and captured Septimia Zenobia, regent for her young son Wahballat (called Vaballathus in Latin); shortly afterward the capital surrendered. Aurelian then marched to the Danube, where he defeated the Carpi. When Palmyra revolted a second time in 273, Aurelian recaptured and destroyed the city.
In 274 he returned west to confront Tetricus, the rival emperor, who controlled Gaul, Spain, and Britain. Beset by a German invasion and by internal conspiracies, Tetricus concluded a secret treaty with Aurelian, deserting to him at the Battle of ChĂąlons. The leaderless army of the Rhine was swiftly defeated, and Tetricus was rewarded with the governorship of Lucania but only after marching in Aurelianâs triumph alongside Zenobia. Thus the vast empire was again ruled by a central authority. In 274, with the empire temporarily united, Aurelian made the momentous decision to withdraw Roman troops from Dacia and resettle soldiers and settlers south of the Danube. He understood that defensible boundaries were essential for the long-term survival of the empire.
Aurelian was an outstanding general and a severe and uncompromising administrator. By increasing the distribution of free food at Rome, he did more for the plebeians than almost any other emperor. His attempt to reform the silver coinage, debased for more than 40 years, met with only limited success. He sought to subordinate the divergent religions of the empire to the cult of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) and so create the kind of religious unity that came only later with Constantine.
Early in 275, while marching to open a campaign against Persia, Aurelian was murdered by a group of officers who had allegedly been misled by his secretary into believing themselves marked for execution. The government was continued in the name of Aurelianâs widow, Ulpia Severina, until, after six months, the Senate appointed the elderly Marcus Claudius Tacitus to the throne. The empire remained divided and chaotic until Diocletianâs ascension (ad 284).
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