Roman History: The Little Known Roman Emperor Called “Saloninus”

The Little Known Roman Emperor Called “Saloninus”

Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus Valerianus is better known to us as “Saloninus”. He was born in the year 242AD to Gallienus and Salonina and was their second son. His elder brother Valerian II was proclaimed Caesar in 256AD and fought alongside his father Gallienus at the Danubian front. Valerian II died early in 258AD captured and killed by Shapur I of the Sassanid Empire. His father, Emperor Gallienus then demoted the commander Ingenuus who had been hailed the new emperor by the legions of Moesia (Central Serbia) in favour of Valerian's son. Gallienus met Ingenuus on the battlefield at Mursa (modern Croatia) where Gallienus's General, Aurelian, led the troops to victory over Ingenuus. Ingenuus survived the battle but to avoid capture drowned himself in a nearby river.

Blue Glass Bust of Saloninus in the Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne

Photo: cointalk.com

Saloninus was made Caesar in Gaul in 258AD and was put under the protection of the praetorian prefect Silvanus.

The silver coinage of Saloninus undergoes a severe debasement in 259AD. Before the year ends, the antoninianus becomes debased to the point where the silver content is less than 40%.

This Antoninianus was minted at Lugdunum (Lyon, France) in 256 AD and shows Saloninus as Ceasar. The obverse shows a radiate and draped bust and the legend "SALON VALERIANVS CAES". The reverse shows Spes walking left, holding a flower and raising the hem of the dress with the legend "SPES PVBLICA" meaning "the hope of the public".

Spes was the Roman personification of Hope, normally depicted carrying flowers. On this coin, the Caesar, Saloninus, the designated successor of the emperor, is identified as the hope for the future of the Roman people.

In 260AD Silvanus ordered Postumus to give over the booty that he had won in a successful raid on a German warband who had raided Gaul. Postumus's men refused and turned on Saloninus and Silvanus, who had to flee to Cologne with some loyal troops. Postumus was then acclaimed emperor by his army. Postumus surrounded Saloninus and Silvanus in Cologne.

Gallienus was engaged in the Danube and could not save his son, Saloninus. So in desperation proclaimed Saloninus emperor hoping that this would induce Postumus's army to desert him and join them in a bid for Empire. The citizens of Colonia Agrippina handed Saloninus and Saloninus over to their enemy. The army of Postumus murdered them. Soloninus's reign as sole Emperor only lasted a few weeks or months of his accession in the year of 260AD.

The Reign of Emperor Gallienus: The Apogee of Roman Cavalry

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This is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268). Considered the most blatantly military man of all of the soldier emperors of the third century, Gallienus is the emperor in Harry Sidebottom's bestselling Warrior of Rome novels. Gallienus faced more simultaneous usurpations and foreign invasions than any other emperor, but somehow he managed to survive. Dr. Ilkka Syvanne explains how this was possible. It was largely thanks to the untiring efforts of Gallienus that the Roman Empire survived for another 1,200 years. Gallienus was a notorious libertarian, womanizer, and cross-dresser, but he was also a fearless warrior, duellist and general all at the same time. This monograph explains why he was loved by the soldiers,yet so intensely hated by some officers that they killed him in a conspiracy. The year 2018 is the 1,800th anniversary of Gallienus' date of birth and the 1,750th anniversary of his date of death. The Reign of Gallienus celebrates the life and times of this great man.

Gallienus after losing two sons, made no effort to elevate his third son, Egnatius Marinianus, although he did allow him to be elected to the ceremonial office of Consul in 268AD. Gallienus died in September 268AD.

Romans at War:
The Roman Military in the Republic and Empire
By Dr. Simon Elliott

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In Romans at War ground-breaking research is presented in an accessible, entertaining, and sumptuously illustrated format, including: • A new consideration of the nature of late Roman military leaders; the author argues they were effectively independent warlords

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