Gallic Empire

The Gallic Empire, also known as the Imperium Galliarum, consisted of Britain, France and Spain becoming independent for 14 years between 260-274 CE during a period known as the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE).
At the same time, between 263-273 CE, Egypt, the Levant and Syria and eastern Turkey seceded to become the Palmyrene Empire.

The ‘Imperium Galliarum’ or Gallic Empire lasted between 260 and 274 CE.
In 260 CE, Postumus, Governor of Germania Inferior, Germania Superior and Raetia, declared Germany, Gaul, Spain and Britannia an Independent State, during the Crisis of the Third Century.
After nine years in power, Postumus was assassinated in 269 CE, and replaced by Laelianus. Aurelian finally reconquered the territory after the Battle of Chalons in 274 CE.

In 260 CE, whilst Gallienus was campaigning on the Danube, he left Postumus in charge of the Rhine with his son Salolinus.
In 260 CE, heading south from Gaul, Postumus defeated the Juthungian Army as it returned from Italy laden with booty and prisoners. Gallienus‘ son, Salolinus demanded the booty be sent to him in Cologne, on the recommendation of his Praefectus Praetorio Silvanus. Postumus’ legions then declared him Emperor, and they besieged and entered Cologne. Salolinus and Silvanus were executed.

In 260 CE Postumus was recognised as Emperor in Gaul, Germania Inferior, Germania Superior, and Raetia.
In 261 CE Postumus was recognised also in Gallia Narbonensis, Britannia and Hispania.
This became known as the Gallic Empire with its capital either at Trier or Cologne.
Postumus then setup a parallel state to that in Rome, adopting the title of Emperor, Consul and Pontifex Maximus and calling himself ‘Germanicus Maximus’ after defeating the Germanic tribes.
Postumus established his own Roman Senate of predominantly Gallic origin, with his own Praetorian Guard and Prefect.

In 265 CE Gallienus was finally free to bring his Cavalry Army, the Comitatenses, to Gaul and challenge Postumus. Despite an initial defeat, Aureolis, the cavalry Commander allowed Postumus to escape and regroup. Aureolis appears to have been dismissed from the Comitatenses and sent to Raetia. Gallienus became preoccupied with Revolts and Germanic Invasions, and never challenged Postumus again.
In 265 CE Postumus issued coins celebrating his victory over Gallienus.
In 268 CE Postumus elevated a Gallic noble Marcus Piavonius Victorinus, to joint Consul alongside himself.
in 268 CE Postumus issued Gold coins celebrating the Twelve Labours of Hercules. However, he appears to have been experiencing disaffection in his army.

In 268 CE Aureolus, the former Comitatenses commander, declared his support for Postumus from the city of Milan and included the support of Raetia. Postumus declined to accept the crown and invade Italy, Gallienus rushed back to defeat Aureolis, but was assassinated during the siege of Milan. Aureolus fled to Gaul.
On 1st Jan 269 CE, Postumus was re-elected Consul, but the Rhine Legions were dissatisfied he had not invaded Italy when invited to do so.

Early in 269 CE, Laelianus, the Governor of Germania Superior was declared Emperor by the Legio XXII Primigenia in Mainz. Postumus successfully besieged Mainz and executed Laelianus but spared the city.

Unfortunately, Postumus’ own troops wanted to sack Mainz against his wishes, and assassinated him.

When Postumus suppressed the revolt of Laelianus, the legions wished to sack Mainz. Postumus overruled them, but they rose up and assassinated him, electing Marcus Aurelius Marius as emperor instead. Marius allowed them to sack Mainz, and moved to Trier.
When Postumus‘ senior commander, Victorinus arrived, Marcus Aurelius Marius was put to death as a usurper, and Victorinus regained control of the Gallic Empire.

Victorinus was Postumus trusted senior commander, probably the Praefectus Praetorio. After Postumus quelled the rebellion by Laelianus in Mainz, he was assassinated by his own soldiers, who elected Marcus Aurelius Marius as emperor in his place. Victorinus immediately set off for the Rhine and captured and executed Marius in Trier, where the legions elected him Emperor. Britannia, and the Gauls also voted for him, but Spain left the Gallic Empire, and voted to rejoin Claudius II Gothicus in Italy.

Claudius sent General Placidianus to southeast Gaul with the mission of re-conquering the cities. Placidianus only conquered Grenoble, but Autun declared for Claudius II Gothicus, After a seven month siege, Victorinus sacked Autun, then returned to Trier. Back in Trier, Victorinus was assassinated by Attitianus in 270 CE.

In the absence of an official history, his existence is only confirmed by some coins, it is thought that Domitianus II was Victorinus‘ usurper, elected by the legions, and executed by his successor, Tetricus I.

In 271 CE, Tetricus was the Governor of Gallia Aquitania when Victorinus was executed. He was chosen by Victorinus‘ mother as his successor, and elected emperor in Bordeaux. He then moved the capital of the ”Gallic from Cologne.
In 273 CE, he had his son, Tetricus II, named as heir to the throne.

Only Strasbourg and Spain, refused to accept him, preferring Aurelian instead. The rest of Gaul, Germania and Britannia accepted Tetricus and not Aurelian.
The German Tribes continued to invade, with Tetricus fighting them in the first two years, but later his policy was to withdraw and abandon the forts. One such Germanic incursion reached the Loire.

In 273 or 274 CE, Faustinus, the Governor of Gallia Belgica rebelled against Tetricus I, from the capital at Trier. Unable to restore order, it is thought that Tetricus appealed to Aurelian. Having defeated the Palmyrene Empire in 273 CE, Aurelian brought his legions to defeat the Gallic Empire.

In 274 CE Aurelian‘s army defeated the army of Tetricus I with great bloodshed at the Battle of Chalons, near Chalons-sur-Marne. The Gallic Empire was finally defeated. After March 274 CE, all the Gallic mints change to produce coins for Aurelian.
Tetricus I was then taken back to Rome with his son, Tetricus II, and paraded with the other defeated Empress, Queen Zenobia. Both were then pardoned by Aurelian and allowed to live in Italia. Tetricus became a Senator and a Corrector (Governor) of Lucania et Bruttii.

Classical Sources
- Historia Augusta ‘The Thirty Tyrants’.
- Zosimus ‘Historia Nova’.

Trier