Aureolus

Aureolus († 268 in Milan ) was the commander of the cavalry of the Roman emperor Gallienus .

Life

Aureolus was a Dacian of low origin. In 260 he defeated the usurper Ingenuus at Mursa on the lower reaches of the Drava , who had been proclaimed anti-emperor in Pannonia . Aureolus was appointed by Gallienus to commander the newly established and independent cavalry army stationed in Mediolanum ( Milan ). The best men from the equestrian contingents of the legions and auxiliary units had been integrated into this army . In 261 Aureolus defeated the usurper Macrianus and his father of the same name near Serdica on their campaign to Italy. In 265 he accompanied Emperor Gallienus on his campaign against the Gallic Empire , where he weakened the position of the emperor through treasonable behavior so that he could not take advantage of a previously won victory over Postumus . Shortly afterwards, however, the reconciliation with the emperor followed.

In 268 Gallienus entrusted Aureolus with the security of Northern Italy, while the ruler himself went to Macedonia to fight the Goths and Heruli that had invaded there . Aureolus changed sides again and had coins minted for Postumus. However, he made no move to march to Italy. Gallienus returned quickly after a victory over the fallen tribes and defeated Aureolus in a battle near Mediolanum, so that he had to retreat to the city, where he might proclaim himself emperor. During the siege of the city, Gallienus was murdered by traitorous generals. Aureolus surrendered to the new emperor Claudius Gothicus , but was killed by his soldiers.

swell

• Historia Augusta , Claudius 4.4; 5
• Historia Augusta, Thirty Tyrants 10.14; 11; 12.2; 12: 13-14; 14.1; 15.4; 18.1; 18.3; 30.23
• Historia Augusta, Gallienus 2,6-7; 3.1; 3.3; 4.6; 5.6; 7.1; 9.1; 14.6-7; 21st
• Zonaras 26.1 f.
• Zosimos 1.41

literature

• Andreas Alföldi : The usurper Aureolus and the cavalry reform of Gallienus. In: Journal of Numismatics. Volume XXXVII, 1927, pp. 197-212.
  • Reprinted in: The same: Studies on the history of the world crisis of the third century AD. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1967, pp. 1–15.