VABALATHUS Eastern Usurper
Reigned: 271-272 A.D.
| SEPTIMIVS VABALATHVS was the son of Septimius Odenathus and Zenobia, the rulers of the Syrian city of Palmyra. Odenathus was a valuable Roman ally, and after the capture of Valerian I by the Sassanians in 260, he preserved the Roman east. However he was murdered in 267 and Zenobia and Vabalathus assumed control. They grew increasingly independent of Rome and in 271 finally assumed the imperial titles. Aurelian crushed them in mid-272, but they were preserved to march in Aurelian's triumph at Rome in 274. Zenobia was well-treated afterward, but nothing more is known of Vabalathus.(From MONETA, from www.numus.com) |
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AE Antoninianus (20mm 3.31g) Struck 270-271 A.D. Antioch Obv.VABALATHUS V C R IMP D R Laureate, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right RIC V 381 (Aurelian) |
