The First Gallican Emperor: Part 1
I figure, why don't we have an Byzantine Empire for the West?
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Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus Augustus had been troubled by a rival in Gaul since 260 when the German legions raised among themselves Imperator Caesar Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus Pius Felix Augustus. In 265 he invaded Gaul to put an end to the proclaimed usurper.
Postumus who would style himself Restitutor Galliarum (Restorer of Gaul), Salus Provinciarum (Bringer of Security to the Provinces) and Germanicus maximus (Victor in Germania) was first raised to the purple in 260 following the defeat of the Juthungi when at the command of the local praetorian prefect the spoils of the battle were to be transferred to the prefect's personal residence in Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).The soldiers under Postumus’ command revolted and stormed Cologne - but the command to transfer the spoils had been ordered by one Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus - titled Caesar for he was Emperor Gallienus’ only son. Shortly thereafter Saloninus was taken from Colonia Agrippina and handily murdered by the revolting army. While perhaps reluctant at first, when news arrived of Emperor Valerian’s capture and execution by the Sassanids - Postumus fully committed to the revolt and in short order was recognized as Emperor in all of the European provinces from Gaul westward.
For the first five years of his reign, Postumus set himself up in his Gallic territories with a strong administrative system and fiercely defended it against invaders from across the Rhine in 262 and 263. Augusta Treverorum (Trier) was his capital where he swiftly set up a rival senate to the one in Rome, even a Praetorian Guard but again much of his strength came from Gaul where many of his soldiers came from leading to a rapid Gallicization of the Rhineland where he focused much of his attention. With silver mines in Hispania and Britannia he was able to maintain a fair amount of control over his army and fund the construction of fortifications along the Rhine. For all this time though his focus was not to take Rome itself, he wished to simply be recognized as Co-Emperor with Gallienus but the death of the man’s issue no doubt saw any chance of that incredibly thin.
Following Valerian’s death revolts and invasions by barbarians wracked the eastern frontier preventing Gallienus from turning his attention to the Gallic regime in his western provinces he gave command to Aurelous, a well regarded cavalry commander. However, Aurelous was unable to decisively defeat Postumus and for this he was censured having his command stripped from him and placed in command of the garrison in Mediolanum (Milan) - something which would have drastic results in a few years. Gathering his forces in northern Italy, Gallienus invaded Gaul intent on retaking the wayward provinces once and for all.
Postumus rose to meet the challenge of the two armies clashing in southern Gaul but thanks to the command of his subordinates Claudius and Aurelian the tempo of the conflict pushed Postumus back to the city of Arelate (Arles) and besieged him behind its walls. Perhaps Gallienus was eager to avenge himself upon Postumus or perhaps he was worn down by the years of constant war attempting to keep the empire together - regardless an arrow from one of the defenders found its way into his flesh and he killed in moments.
Once Gallienus’ army saw him fall it was chaos as the army fractured as some of the men went over to Postumus while others retreated under the command of Claudius and Aurelian. Perhaps emboldened by the defeat of Gallienus or wishing at least to insure that these rivals would not return to Gaul, Postumus gave chase into Italy. Claudius sent word to Aurelous to bring reinforcements from Mediolanum and the news he received was that the former cavalry commander was on his way as fast as he could travel. Claudius turned to face Postumus’ army at Cueno but when Aurelous’ forces arrived instead of joining with them they turned their banners to Postumus thus pinning Claudius’ forces between the two fronts. Decimated, Claudius’ army surrendered and both he and Aurelian were forced to commit suicide.
Thus began the reign of the Gallic Emperors, and what would be referred to historians as the beginning of the Gallican Empire.
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Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus Augustus had been troubled by a rival in Gaul since 260 when the German legions raised among themselves Imperator Caesar Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus Pius Felix Augustus. In 265 he invaded Gaul to put an end to the proclaimed usurper.
Postumus who would style himself Restitutor Galliarum (Restorer of Gaul), Salus Provinciarum (Bringer of Security to the Provinces) and Germanicus maximus (Victor in Germania) was first raised to the purple in 260 following the defeat of the Juthungi when at the command of the local praetorian prefect the spoils of the battle were to be transferred to the prefect's personal residence in Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).The soldiers under Postumus’ command revolted and stormed Cologne - but the command to transfer the spoils had been ordered by one Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus - titled Caesar for he was Emperor Gallienus’ only son. Shortly thereafter Saloninus was taken from Colonia Agrippina and handily murdered by the revolting army. While perhaps reluctant at first, when news arrived of Emperor Valerian’s capture and execution by the Sassanids - Postumus fully committed to the revolt and in short order was recognized as Emperor in all of the European provinces from Gaul westward.
For the first five years of his reign, Postumus set himself up in his Gallic territories with a strong administrative system and fiercely defended it against invaders from across the Rhine in 262 and 263. Augusta Treverorum (Trier) was his capital where he swiftly set up a rival senate to the one in Rome, even a Praetorian Guard but again much of his strength came from Gaul where many of his soldiers came from leading to a rapid Gallicization of the Rhineland where he focused much of his attention. With silver mines in Hispania and Britannia he was able to maintain a fair amount of control over his army and fund the construction of fortifications along the Rhine. For all this time though his focus was not to take Rome itself, he wished to simply be recognized as Co-Emperor with Gallienus but the death of the man’s issue no doubt saw any chance of that incredibly thin.
Following Valerian’s death revolts and invasions by barbarians wracked the eastern frontier preventing Gallienus from turning his attention to the Gallic regime in his western provinces he gave command to Aurelous, a well regarded cavalry commander. However, Aurelous was unable to decisively defeat Postumus and for this he was censured having his command stripped from him and placed in command of the garrison in Mediolanum (Milan) - something which would have drastic results in a few years. Gathering his forces in northern Italy, Gallienus invaded Gaul intent on retaking the wayward provinces once and for all.
Postumus rose to meet the challenge of the two armies clashing in southern Gaul but thanks to the command of his subordinates Claudius and Aurelian the tempo of the conflict pushed Postumus back to the city of Arelate (Arles) and besieged him behind its walls. Perhaps Gallienus was eager to avenge himself upon Postumus or perhaps he was worn down by the years of constant war attempting to keep the empire together - regardless an arrow from one of the defenders found its way into his flesh and he killed in moments.
Once Gallienus’ army saw him fall it was chaos as the army fractured as some of the men went over to Postumus while others retreated under the command of Claudius and Aurelian. Perhaps emboldened by the defeat of Gallienus or wishing at least to insure that these rivals would not return to Gaul, Postumus gave chase into Italy. Claudius sent word to Aurelous to bring reinforcements from Mediolanum and the news he received was that the former cavalry commander was on his way as fast as he could travel. Claudius turned to face Postumus’ army at Cueno but when Aurelous’ forces arrived instead of joining with them they turned their banners to Postumus thus pinning Claudius’ forces between the two fronts. Decimated, Claudius’ army surrendered and both he and Aurelian were forced to commit suicide.
Thus began the reign of the Gallic Emperors, and what would be referred to historians as the beginning of the Gallican Empire.
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