Gallienus

Gallienus, born Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260 AD, and sole emperor from 260 to 268 AD. He was the son of Emperor Valerian and his wife Mariniana. Gallienus' reign was marked by a period of intense crisis for the Roman Empire, often referred to as the Crisis of the Third Century.

His father, Valerian, was captured by the Sasanian king Shapur I in 260 AD, leaving Gallienus as the sole ruler. This event plunged the empire into further instability. Gallienus faced numerous internal and external threats, including usurpations by various generals and invasions by Germanic tribes and the Sasanians. He spent much of his reign campaigning to defend the empire's borders.

Gallienus implemented several military and administrative reforms. He reorganized the army, creating a more mobile cavalry force and delegating command to generals. He also attempted to stabilize the economy, which was suffering from inflation and debasement of coinage. However, these reforms were not always successful in the face of overwhelming challenges.

His reign is often characterized by a struggle to maintain control over a vast and fractured empire. Despite his efforts, large parts of the empire effectively broke away, forming entities like the Gallic Empire and the Palmyrene Empire. Gallienus was assassinated in 268 AD by a conspiracy of his own officers, possibly due to discontent over his policies or military setbacks. His successor, Claudius Gothicus, continued the work of restoring Roman authority.