Vaballathus

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

NAME:
- Lucius Julius Aurelius Septimus Vaballathus Athenodorus.
VABALLATHUS’ DATES OF REIGN:
- 267-272 CE.
VABALLATHUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born: 259 CE. Died: After 274 CE (his last known date)
PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
- Born in Palmyra. Died in Rome according to Zosimus.
VABALLATHUS’ PREDECESSOR:
- Odaenathus
VABALLATHUS’ SUCCESSOR:
- Aurelian
HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
- He was crowned by his father Odaenathus.
- His mother, Zenobia, acted as Regent.
DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
- Zosimus states that he was taken to Rome for a Roman Triumph with his mother Queen Zenobia and retired in Italia.
WHERE BURIED:
- Unknown.

Early years
- In 267 CE, Vaballathus was eight years old when he was crowned ‘King of Kings’ of Palmyra. His mother, Queen Zenobia acted as Regent.

The Rise of the Palmyrene Empire (271-273 CE)
- In October 271 CE, Egypt was invaded and successfully occupied by a Palmyrene army of 70,000.
- In 271 CE, the Palmyrene army reached Ancyra, in Turkey, marking the westernmost boundary of the Palmyrene Empire.

Aurelian invades the Palmyrene Empire (272-3 CE)
- 272 CE Whilst his general led an army to recapture Egypt, Aurelian led the Legions into Anatolia, from Greece. He defeated Queen Zenobia at the Battle of Immae and again at the Battle of Emesa (Homs).
- 273 CE He finally besieged Palmyra which surrendered and Queen Zenobia was captured, taken to Rome in golden chains for a Roman Triumph, and held under house arrest in a villa at Tivoli, near Rome.
- Palmyra later rebelled again, and this time Aurelian sacked the city. The Ruins of Palmyra can be visited today.