Ancient Coin Stories

Approximate birth year of Gallienus to Valerian and Mariniana.

Gallienus marries Cornelia Salonina.

Estimated birth year of Valerian II to Salonina and Gallienus.

Estimated birth year of Saloninus to Salonina and Gallienus.

Estimated birth year of Marinianus to Salonina and Gallienus.

Aemilian is killed by his own troops and Valerian is proclaimed Emperor. At his urging, his son Gallienus is promoted to Augustus.

Valerian II made Caesar under Valerian and Gallienus.

Death of Valerian II, who dies under suspicious circumstances while in the guardianship of Ingenuus, a powerful Illyrian governor, that Gallienus attempts to demote Ingenuus.

Saloninus elevated to Caesar under Valerian and his father Gallienus.

Ingenuus revolts against Gallienus and Valerian. Gallienus quickly meets him in battle and defeats him. Ingenuus is killed by his own guards or commits suicide.

The Alamanni invade Italy and are eventually defeated by Gallienus at the Battle of Mediolanum.

Regalianus revolts against Gallienus and Valerian. He is killed by invading Roxolani after ruling for six months.

Saloninus, son of Gallienus, is killed by troops of Postumus at Colonia Agrippina.

The Roman army under Valerian is defeated by Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa. Valerian is taken prisoner. Gallienus becomes the sole Emperor.

Postumus declares the Gallic Empire in a revolt against Gallienus.

The prefect of Egypt, Lucius Mussius Aemilianus, revolts against Gallienus.

Troops of Gallienus defeat Aemilianus, imprison, and then strangle him.

Gallienus surrounds the forces of the Gallic Empire under Postumus, but is wounded by an arrow and forced to flee.

Gallienus attacks Postumus, who escapes due to a mistake by Gallienus’ commander Aureolus.

Aureolus rebels from Gallienus and declares for Postumus.

Aurelian plays a key role in the assassination of Emperor Gallienus and supports Claudius Gothicus, who becomes the new emperor.

Aureolus, a commander under Gallienus, claims the throne for himself.

Gallienus is killed and Claudius Gothicus chosen as emperor by troops outside of Milan.

Gallienus besieges Aureolus at Pontirolo Nuovo. Aureolus is defeated, but Gallienus is killed by his own soldiers.