Laelianus
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| Laelianus | |
| Usurper within the Gallic Empire | |
 Laelianus on an aureus. The figure on the reverse might be a reference to Hispania |
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| Reign | February / March 268 (against Postumus) |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus |
| Born | Gaul |
| Died | 268 |
Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus was a usurper against Postumus, the emperor of the Gallic Empire.
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[edit] Origins
Little is known about Laelianus. He shares the same nomen as a prominent Spanish noble family, the Ulpii, that included Trajan among its members, and may have been a relative. This is supported by the strong allusion to Hispania on an aureus he struck, which featured the design of Hispania reclining with a rabbit to her side. If he indeed was a relative, this may be the reason Spain allied itself with Claudius II, after the death of Postumus, seemingly without a struggle.
[edit] Rule
Laelianus declared himself emperor at Mainz in February/March 268. Although his exact position is unknown, he is believed to have been a senior officer under Postumus, either the legatus of Germania Superior or the commander of Legio XXII Primigenia. Laelianus represented a strong danger to Postumus because of the two legions he commanded (Primigenia in Mainz and VIII Augusta in Strasbourg); Despite this, his rebellion lasted only about two months before he was executed, reputedly by his own soldiers, or by Postumus troops after a siege of Laelianus' capital. The siege of Mainz was also fatal for Postumus; it is said he was slain when he refused to allow his troops to plunder the city following its capture.
Laelianus is listed among the Thirty Tyrants in the Historia Augusta.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Media related to Laelianus from the Wikimedia Commons.
| Preceded by Postumus |
Emperor of the Gallic Empire 268 |
Succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Marius |
