The Gallic Empire (260-274 CE)
- State of the Empire in the Mid-3rd Century CE
-In 260, Emperor Valerian is defeated and captured by the Sassanid Empire at Battle of Edessa
-Co-Emperor and son of Valerian, Gallienus, fighting in Danube region
-Gallienus leaves Postumus, governor of Germania Superior and Inferior in charge of defending the region around the Rhine river
-Leaves his son and heir Saloninus, and a Praetorian Prefect, Silvanus, in Colonia Agrippina (modern day Cologne), capital of Germania Inferior
- Formation of the Gallic Empire
-Juthungian army, a tribe from Germany, invades Italy. Army crushed by Postumus on their return journey back to Germany. He divides the spoils of their defeat amongst his soldiers. Silvanus orders the plunder returned instead to his residence
-Postumus lays siege to Colonia Agrippina. Saloninus and Silvanus are executed once the city is breached and captured
-Provinces of Spain, Gaul, Germany, and Britain join the breakaway empire
- Emperors of the Gallic Empire
- Postumus (260-269)
-Born somewhere in Gaul
-Previously governor of Germania Superior and Inferior
-Set up the new empire with much of the same structure as the Roman Empire, including consuls, praetorian guard, and perhaps a senate, keeps capital at Colonia Agrippina
-Successfully fended off an attempt by Gallienus to retake the Gallic Empire in 265
-Laelianus, a military commander under Postumus, lead a revolt in Germania Superior in the city of Mogontiacum from February to June 269
-He was defeated, but Postumus was assassinated by his own men when he wouldn’t allow them to sack the city
- Marius(269)
-Not much is known about his life, may have been a blacksmith who rose through the ranks
-Probably raised to Emperor because unlike Postumus, he allowed the men to sack Mogontiacum
-According to the Thirty Tyrants portion of the Historia Augusta his reign may have lasted for as few as 3 days, but it was more likely that it last two to three months
-Killed by the Praetorian Prefect, and subsequent Emperor, Victorinus
- Victorinus (269-271)
-Born in Gaul to a wealthy family
-Served as co-consul under Postumus
-Murdered by a military officer whose wife he tried to seduce
-Another usurper, Domitianus, appeared in Gaul around 271. He struck coins calling himself emperor but his reign probably only lasted a few weeks
- Tetricus the elder (271-274) with son Tetricus II (271-274)
-Victoria, mother of Victorinus, seized control of the army after his death through bribes and her own authority
-She selected Tetricus to be the next emperor
-Proclaimed his son co-consul to help control the failing province
-Eventually defeated by Aurelian, who had recently finally put down revolts in the east
-Sources say Tetricus and his son may have sold out their troops before the battle in order to spare their own lives, leading to the slaughter of their men
-Tetricus apparently continues to live a productive life within the Roman Empire after his surrender
- How was Britain affected?
-Britain, unlike Gaul and Germania, had been comparatively free from barbarian raids
-According to Salway, having a capital closer, in Gaul rather than in Rome, would have been to Britain’s benefit
-The new empire needed support, and was willing to give Britain anything that it needed so that its loyalty could be retained
-After the collapse of the Gallic Empire, many wealthy citizens may have fled the chaos of Gaul to the somewhat peaceful Britain, bringing their money with them
-Reorganization under the Gallic Empire may have led to better local administration in Britain