Description
Beautiful 1800 years old coin for the Roman Emperor Valerian 253-260 AD, it will make an ideal Royal Class gift for someone special. It comes in our luxury box.
Bilon Antoninian
Diameter: 21mm
Weight: 2.89g
Valerian (Publius Licinius Valerianus, c. 193–260 AD) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 253 to 260 AD. His reign is marked by significant events and challenges, including military crises and his unique fate as a captured emperor. Here are key highlights about him:
Background
- Rise to Power: Valerian was of senatorial rank and held various administrative and military positions before becoming emperor. He was proclaimed emperor in 253 AD amidst a period of political instability and external threats to the Roman Empire.
- Co-Emperor: He appointed his son Gallienus as co-emperor to help manage the vast Roman Empire, dividing responsibilities between them.
Reign
- Military Challenges: His reign was dominated by external threats, particularly from the Sassanid Empire in the East and Germanic tribes in the West.
- Persecution of Christians: Valerian enacted harsh edicts against Christians, ordering clergy to sacrifice to Roman gods and seizing Christian property. His persecution was part of a broader effort to restore traditional Roman religious practices.
Captivity and Death
- Defeat by the Sassanids: In 260 AD, Valerian led a campaign against the Sassanid ruler Shapur I but was defeated at the Battle of Edessa. He was captured—an unprecedented humiliation for a Roman emperor.
- Captivity and Fate: Shapur I reportedly used Valerian as a personal servant or footstool and subjected him to public humiliation. Accounts of his death vary, with some suggesting he was killed and his body flayed, while others indicate he died in captivity.
Legacy
- Historical Significance: Valerian’s capture marked a low point in Roman prestige and highlighted the empire’s vulnerabilities during the Crisis of the Third Century.
- Aftermath: His son Gallienus continued as sole emperor, attempting to stabilize the empire during a tumultuous period.
Valerian’s reign is a cautionary tale about the challenges of maintaining a vast empire under constant threat from internal and external pressures.
