Changes

'''Aurelian''' (full name: ''Imperator Caesar Lucius Domitius Aurelianus Augustus'') was [[Roman Emperor]] from AD 270 to AD 275.

'''Aurelian''' (full name: ''Imperator Caesar Lucius Domitius Aurelianus Augustus'') was [[Roman Emperor]] from AD 270 to AD 275.

Aurelian was born in the city of Sirmium on September 9, probably in the year AD 214 or AD 215. He came from a humble background, his father was working in a farm for a senator name Aurelius and his mother was a priestess of a temple of Sol Invictus in her village. He joined the Roman Army at a young age and rose through the ranks. He was distinguished for his military prowess. It is claimed that he served in a garrison of 300 men and they intercepted a raid by the Sarmatians when they crossed into the region of Illyricum and it is alleged that he killed hundreds of barbarians over several days. He is then said to have served as a military Tribune of a legion in Gaul and he participated in the destruction of the Franks during their invasions in the 250s.

Aurelian was born in the city of Sirmium on September 9, probably in the year AD 214 or AD 215. He came from a humble background, his father was working in a farm for a senator name Aurelius and his mother was a priestess of a temple of Sol Invictus in her village. He joined the Roman Army at a young age and rose through the ranks. He was distinguished for his military prowess. It is claimed that he served in a garrison of 300 men and they intercepted a raid by the Sarmatians when they crossed into the region of Illyricum and it is alleged that he killed hundreds of barbarians over several days. He is then said to have served as a military Tribune of a legion in Gaul and he participated in the destruction of the Franks during their invasions in the 250s.

As a Tribune, he was first known for his harsh discipline to his legionaries. Then he was made an envoy to the Sassanid Persians where he is said to have received gifts from the Persian King. Emperor Valerian promoted Aurelian to 'Inspector of the Military Camps'. A man doubted by modern historians to have existed, Ulpius Crinitus was said to have been the Dux (leader) of the Illyrian and Thracian Border under [[Valerian]]. Aurelian was made his deputy. Crinitus supposedly adopted him after Aurelian was proved to have been a good deputy by crushing raids by the Goths and enriching the provinces with the spoils of war. He announced his adoption of Aurelian and the Emperor gave his blessing. Ulpius Crinitus was of the Ulpia gens, the family of which the emperor [[Trajan]] came from.  

As a Tribune, he was first known for his harsh discipline to his legionaries. Then he was made an envoy to the Sassanid Persians where he is said to have received gifts from the Persian King. Emperor Valerian promoted Aurelian to 'Inspector of the Military Camps'. A man doubted by modern historians to have existed, Ulpius Crinitus was said to have been the Dux (leader) of the Illyrian and Thracian Border under [[Valerian]]. Aurelian was made his deputy. Crinitus supposedly adopted him after Aurelian was proved to have been a good deputy by crushing raids by the Goths and enriching the provinces with the spoils of war. He announced his adoption of Aurelian and the Emperor gave his blessing. Ulpius Crinitus was of the Ulpia gens, the family of which the emperor [[Trajan]] came from.  

After the death of Valerian, he served the Emperors Gallienus and Claudius II. He was in command of the wars against the [[Goths]] and the Herculi. He was then put in charge of a large and elite Cavalry force and then was put in charge of mopping up operations in the Balkans against the Goths who were defeated by Claudius II. After the death of [[Claudius II]], Aurelian was declared Emperor by the Danubian Legions. The [[Roman Senate]] chose Quintillus, the brother of Claudius II to succeed him. However, Quintillus was soon killed or he committed suicide. Aurelian arrived in Rome and he eventually ordered the construction of a wall to protect the city of Rome from potential barbarian invasions. Since he was going to be away from Rome for some time on campaign. The construction of the wall started in AD 271 and these set of walls are known as the wall of Aurelian. They incorporated many monuments into the design such as the mausoleum of Hadrian to save resources and time. The Emperor Maxentius upgraded the walls and doubled it's height to protect Rome from the forces of his rival, Constantine I.

After the death of Valerian, he served the Emperors Gallienus and Claudius II. He was in command of the wars against the [[Goths]] and the Herculi. He was then put in charge of a large and elite Cavalry force and then was put in charge of mopping up operations in the Balkans against the Goths who were defeated by Claudius II. After the death of [[Claudius II]], Aurelian was declared Emperor by the Danubian Legions. The [[Roman Senate]] chose Quintillus, the brother of Claudius II to succeed him. However, Quintillus was soon killed or he committed suicide. Aurelian arrived in Rome and he eventually ordered the construction of a wall to protect the city of Rome from potential barbarian invasions. Since he was going to be away from Rome for some time on campaign. The construction of the wall started in AD 271 and these set of walls are known as the wall of Aurelian. They incorporated many monuments into the design such as the mausoleum of Hadrian to save resources and time. The Emperor Maxentius upgraded the walls and doubled it's height to protect Rome from the forces of his rival, Constantine I.

In AD 272, Aurelian marched with his legions to defeat the Palmyrene Empire under Zenobia and Vaballathus. The Palmyrene Empire had invaded parts of Asia Minor, the Levant and Egypt. They met fierce resistance from a Roman Admiral, Tenagino Probus who had been conducting operations in the Mediterranean sea against Gothic pirates. He came back to Egypt after the Palmyrenes left a garrison of 5,000 men. He ejected the garrison from the province. The Palmyrenes came back and he defeated them. He pursued them but the Roman force was surprise attacked near Babylon, a Roman garrison fort and he was captured. Probus committed suicide. In the province of Arabia, they also met resistance from Trassus, the commander of a Roman Legion but he was defeated near Bostra.   

In AD 272, Aurelian marched with his legions to defeat the Palmyrene Empire under Zenobia and Vaballathus. The Palmyrene Empire had invaded parts of Asia Minor, the Levant and Egypt. They met fierce resistance from a Roman Admiral, Tenagino Probus who had been conducting operations in the Mediterranean sea against Gothic pirates. He came back to Egypt after the Palmyrenes left a garrison of 5,000 men. He ejected the garrison from the province. The Palmyrenes came back and he defeated them. He pursued them but the Roman force was surprise attacked near Babylon, a Roman garrison fort and he was captured. Probus committed suicide. In the province of Arabia, they also met resistance from Trassus, the commander of a Roman Legion but he was defeated near Bostra.   

The city of Antioch fell to Aurelian after the Palmyrenes under a general name Zabdas were defeated in Immae on the route to Antioch. The Palmyrenes wanted to prevent Aurelian from capturing Antioch since it was a very important city in the Roman East. The Palmyrene forces reorganized and were stationed in the walled Roman colony of Emesa. The two sides met in the fields of Emesa. The Romans were outnumbered but Aurelian's forces prevailed and the Palmyrenes lost the battle of Emesa.  Aurelian was welcomed into the city and he built a local temple. The Palmyrenes fled and went back to Palmyra. The siege of Palmyra in 272 ended the campaign and Zenobia was captured. Aurelian probably spared Zenobia and Vaballathus. However, he killed Zenobia's chief advisers.

The city of Antioch fell to Aurelian after the Palmyrenes under a general name Zabdas were defeated in Immae on the route to Antioch. The Palmyrenes wanted to prevent Aurelian from capturing Antioch since it was a very important city in the Roman East. The Palmyrene forces reorganized and were stationed in the walled Roman colony of Emesa. The two sides met in the fields of Emesa. The Romans were outnumbered but Aurelian's forces prevailed and the Palmyrenes lost the battle of Emesa.  Aurelian was welcomed into the city and he built a local temple. The Palmyrenes fled and went back to Palmyra. The siege of Palmyra in 272 ended the campaign and Zenobia was captured. Aurelian probably spared Zenobia and Vaballathus. However, he killed Zenobia's chief advisers.

Then he focused his attention to the provinces of west. He defeated the Gallic Roman Empire under Tetricus I and his Caesar, Tetricus II in 274, in the battle of Chalons. Tetricus, his son and his close staff defected to Aurelian probably as part of a prearranged plan to surrender when the Rhine and Danubian legions met. Tetricus defected when the two sides met so that the generals couldn't pick one of their own to command the Rhine legions. The battle of Chalons was a bloody battle that apparently saw the Rhine Legions massacred. It probably was not part of Aurelian's plan since he needed those legions to defend Gaul from invasion from Germanic tribes. Through that, he reunited the whole Empire under one Emperor.

Then he focused his attention to the provinces of west. He defeated the Gallic Roman Empire under Tetricus I and his Caesar, Tetricus II in 274, in the battle of Chalons. Tetricus, his son and his close staff defected to Aurelian probably as part of a prearranged plan to surrender when the Rhine and Danubian legions met. Tetricus defected when the two sides met so that the generals couldn't pick one of their own to command the Rhine legions. The battle of Chalons was a bloody battle that apparently saw the Rhine Legions massacred. It probably was not part of Aurelian's plan since he needed those legions to defend Gaul from invasion from Germanic tribes. Through that, he reunited the whole Empire under one Emperor.

He was murdered in AD 275 while marching to campaign against the Persian Sassanids by high ranking officials who were tricked by a Secretary of Aurelian name Eros into believing that Aurelian was going to murder or punish them.  

He was murdered in AD 275 while marching to campaign against the Persian Sassanids by high ranking officials who were tricked by a Secretary of Aurelian name Eros into believing that Aurelian was going to murder or punish them.