Hairan

Septimius Herodianus or Hairan (before 226 – c. 267) was the son and co-king of Odaenathus of Palmyra.

Life

Hairan was born before 226, the son of Odaenathus and his first (unnamed) wife, and was chosen early in his his father career as a successor. In 251 he was mentioned in an inscription together with his father as a senators and Exarch of Palmyra. After a victory over the Persians in 263, Hairan was crowned of King of Kings by his father.

Hairan was probably murdered with his father under unclear circumstances in 267. John Zonaras, called a cousin Maeonius as murderer while the (especially with regard to the 3rd century) unreliable Historia Augusta indicate that Odaenathus wife Zenobia was an instigator. Other possibility is that it was organized by Emperor Gallienus who feared Odaenathus was becoming too powerful.

References

• Thorsten Fleck: Das Sonderreich von Palmyra. Seine Geschichte im Spiegel der römischen Münzprägung. In: Geldgeschichtliche Nachrichten 199 (September 2000), pp 245-252.
• Udo Hartmann: Das palmyrenische Teilreich (Oriens et Occidens 2). Stuttgart 2001.
• Ted Kaizer: Odaenathus von Palmyra. In: Michael Sommer (Hg.): Politische Morde. Vom Altertum bis zur Gegenwart. Darmstadt 2005, pp 73-79.