Background
Aurelian was born on September 9, 214 or 215 in
Sirmium, (present-day Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia).
Aurelian was born on September 9, 214 or 215 in
Sirmium, (present-day Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia).
He was the principal general under Claudius Gothicus and upon the death of Claudius in 270 Aurelian was proclaimed emperor by the army. His claim to the throne was subsequently recognized by the Senate. The reign of Aurelian was remarkable for many brilliant military successes: he repelled the barbarians on the Danubian frontier, quelled a revolt in Egypt, and restored Gaul to the Roman Empire. In the East he destroyed the kingdom of Palmyra in two rapid campaigns and brought Queen Zenobia to Rome as his captive. In addition to restoring the unity of the Roman Empire, Aurelian fortified Rome with a strong wall 12 miles (19. 3 km) in circumference, reformed the badly depreciated imperial currency, and made the widespread military cult of the sun the state religion. Aurelian was assassinated as the result of a conspiracy at court in 275.
He rose through the military ranks to become emperor. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and 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, and the abandonment of the province of Dacia.
