Wahballat

king of Palmyra

Also known as: Athenodorus, Vaballathus

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July 15, 2026

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Wahballat, also known as Vaballathus, was the young son of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra. Following the assassination of his father, Odaenathus, Zenobia became regent for Wahballat, styling herself as queen and having her son adopt his father's titles, including "governor of all the East".1

Zenobia, however, did not remain a Roman client. She conquered Egypt and parts of Asia Minor, declaring independence from Rome. Emperor Aurelian eventually defeated her armies and besieged Palmyra. Zenobia and Wahballat attempted to flee but were captured. While some accounts state they appeared in Aurelian's triumph in Rome, others suggest Zenobia died during the journey. Palmyra was later destroyed by the Romans after a revolt.1

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ancient Rome
Difficulties in the East
…titles granted to their son Vaballathus. Then in 270, taking advantage of the deaths of Gallienus and Claudius II, she invaded Egypt and a part of Anatolia. This invasion was followed by a rupture with Rome, and in 271 Vaballathus was proclaimed Imperator Caesar Augustus. The latent separatism of the…
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…titles granted to their son Vaballathus. Then in 270, taking advantage of the deaths of Gallienus and Claudius II, she invaded Egypt and a part of Anatolia. This invasion was followed by a rupture with Rome, and in 271 Vaballathus was proclaimed Imperator Caesar Augustus. The latent separatism of the…
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Zenobia
…for her own young son Wahballat (called Vaballathus in Latin, Athenodorus in Greek). Styling herself queen of Palmyra, she had Vaballathus adopt his father’s titles of “king of kings” and corrector totius Orientis (“governor of all the East”).
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…for her own young son Wahballat (called Vaballathus in Latin, Athenodorus in Greek). Styling herself queen of Palmyra, she had Vaballathus adopt his father’s titles of “king of kings” and corrector totius Orientis (“governor of all the East”).
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