Born circa 218 CE, Gallienus ruled the Roman Empire with his father Valerian from 253 CE to 260 CE. His father divided the empire between east and west, ruling the east himself and Gallienus ruling the west. After Valerian was defeated and captured by the Sasanian Empire in 260, Gallienus took over the position as sole ruler up until his death in 268. The defeat of Valerian also propelled the empire into civil war. Gallienus ruled during the “Crisis of the Third Century,” a period of time in which the Roman Empire suffered continuous invasions from barbarians and political instability that nearly caused the empire to fall. In 268, Gallienus was stabbed to death by an officer inside the city walls after he had successfully defended the city against a siege led by an usurper who claimed to be emperor.
Marble bust of Gallienus, Palatine Museum, Rome. (Image from Wikimedia Commons)
“Gallienus.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed December 1, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gallienus.