13 Facts About Aureolus

Aureolus was a Roman military commander during the reign of Emperor Gallienus before he attempted to usurp the Roman Empire.

Aureolus's nomen is often reported as Acilius, while his praenomen is thought to be either Marcus or Manius, both of which were common praenomina within the Acilia gens.

Gallienus was known to promote talent from outside the establishment, and Aureolus was one of the New Men who replaced senators in positions of high command in the army in the course of his reign.

Aureolus was the first commander of this force under the Emperor, and was based at Mediolanum.

Aureolus' cavalry was principally responsible for the defeat of the usurper Ingenuus at the Battle of Mursa in 258.

The success of Aureolus in suppressing the Macriani is thought by some historians to have undermined the achievements of Gallienus.

The reasons for this are unknown, though it is speculated that as a Dacian Aureolus resented Gallienus for using the Dacian garrison to reinforce his field army for the defence of Italy, compounding the problems of barbarian incursions into Dacia.

However, when the Goths and Heruls invaded the Danubian provinces with an enormous force in 268, Aureolus was not even a senior officer of the Imperial comitatus that accompanied the Emperor against the marauders.

Aureolus was instead made commander of the Raetian garrison while his cavalry went east with the Emperor under the command of Claudius or Aurelian, who became Emperor in due course.

Historians believe the longer-term consequences of Aureolus' rebellion opened Raetia to further invasion by the Alamanni who then went on to raid Italy itself in the early months of the reign of Claudius Gothicus.

From Mediolanum, Aureolus invited Postumus to challenge Gallienus for the Empire with his support.

Aureolus was then besieged in Mediolanum by Gallienus' military comitatus, including the cavalry which Aureolus had created.

Aureolus surrendered to Claudius Gothicus, who succeeded Gallienus as Emperor.