Valerian

  • Valerian (253-260 CE) was the only Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of war.
  • After one of the worst defeats in Roman History at the Battle of Edessa (260 CE), Valerian and his Legions were taken into captivity by the Parthians.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Publius Licinius Valerianus from a Senatorial family.
    • As Emperor: Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Augustus
  • VALERIAN’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 22 October 253-260 CE
  • VALERIANUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born: c. 193 to 200 CE. Died: Between 260-264 CE.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born: Location unknown.
    • Died: In Captivity in Parthia, either in Bishapur or Gundishapur, as a prisoner of King Shapur I.
  • VALERIAN’S PREDECESSOR:
  • VALERIAN’S SUCCESSOR:
    • Gallienus (253-268 CE) and Valerianus Minor, his two sons.
    • On the date he acceded to the throne, Valerian made his son, Gallienus his Heir.
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • Trebonianus Gallus had appointed him Commander of the Rhine Legions, but Gallus had to summon him back to Rome to defend himself against Aemilianus.
    • Valerian arrived too late to save Gallus, but his Legions proclaimed him Emperor and when Aemilianus‘ was assassinated by his soldiers, the Senate ratified Valerian’s claim.
  • VALERIAN’S WIVES AND CHILDREN:
    • Egnatia Mariniana (Wife):
      • Punlius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus
      • Valerianus Minor.
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Valerian was the only Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of War, after his defeat by King Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa. He died in captivity.
    • Lactantius comments that Valerian was continually humiliated by being used as a footstool for King Shapur I to mount his horse.
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • Lactantius states that he was finally cremated and buried in Parthia.
  • VALERIAN WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • Valerian Persecution (257-260 CE):
      • His Persecution of the Christians resulted in the execution of Pope Sixtus II, Bishop Cyprian of Carthage, and seven Deacons.
    • Battle of Edessa (260 CE):
      • This was one of the worst defeats in Roman History.
      • Valerian was the only Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of War. He was defeated by King Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa and died in captivity. His army of 70,000 was taken into captivity with him.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF VALERIAN’S REIGN

Valerian Persecution

  • Persecution of the Christians: In 257 CE, Letters were sent to the Roman Senate specifically targeting Christians:
    • All the Christian clergy were to be sent into Exile if they failed to sacrifice to the Roman Gods.
    • All Christian leaders were to be executed. This led to the execution of Pope Sixtus II, the Bishop Cyprian of Carthage, and seven Deacons.
    • All the Roman Senators and Knights must worship the Roman Gods or risk losing their Titles and having their Property confiscated.
    • All Roman Christian Mothers who did not change their religion would be sent into Exile.
    • All Civil Servants and members of the Imperial Household who refused to worship Roman Gods were to be sent into Slavery.
  • The Decree was rescinded in 260 CE when his son Gallienus became Emperor.

Valerian Divides the Roman Empire into East and West

  • Valerian gave his son command of the Rhine and Danube armies in the west to repel the Goths.
  • Valerian then went East with his armies to reconquer the East and campaign against the Parthians.

War against Parthia (257-260 CE)

Battle of Edessa (260 CE)

  • The Persians besieged Edessa and then defeated Valerian at the Battle of Edessa.
  • Shapur I took 60,000 legionaries and Valerian into captivity. It was the worst defeat in Roman History. According to one source, Shapur may have agreed to negotiate with Valerian, but captured him instead.

The entire Roman Army captured in Parthia

  • After the Battle of Edessa, King Shapur I then used the captured Roman legionaries to build a Dam, a Palace, a Temple and a City, next to which they were then settled.
  • The Dam is called Band-e Kaisar (Caesar’s Dam), the city is called Bishapur, in the Province of Fars. The Legionaries constructed their own town called Gundishapur. Roman Engineering then went on to influence Parthian Engineering thereafter.
  • The Legionaries also built a Palace for Shapur I, with Roman Mosaics, where Valerian then lived. They also constructed the Temple of Anahita.
  • Lactantius comments that Valerian was continually humiliated by being used as a footstool for King Shapur I to mount his horse.
  • However, according to the Persian Historian Abu Hanifa Dinawari (828-896 CE), Shapur I settled the Roman prisoners in Gundishapur and Valerian was released.

3. BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS TO VISIT

  • MONUMENTS:
  • Band-e Kaisar ‘Caesar’s Dam’ (still standing)
  • Bishapur: (Ruins only)
    • Between 260-266 CE after the Battle of Edessa, the captured Roman Legionaries built the City of Bishapur, and the Palace and Temple, where they and Valerian then lived:
      • The City of Bishapur (Ruins), Fars Province, Iran: built in 266 CE.
      • Palace of Shapur I, with Roman Mosaics.
      • The Temple of Anahita.

4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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