Aurelian (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus), Roman Emperor

AURELIANO (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus), ROMAN EMPEROR. — Born in Pannonia, he was a brave soldier and commander; he ascended the throne in 270, at a very troubled period for the empire. To defend Rome, he had the imposing circuit of walls built, much of which still exists. Among his military achievements, the most notable is his victory over Zenobia (272), usurper of Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and part of Asia Minor, whose capital was Palmyra. He favored the evolution of the state toward absolutism, restored the finances, and was generous toward the people. He wished to introduce the worship of the Sun as the divinity protecting the empire and as a common religion even for followers of different cults; he hoped to draw the Christians also into this belief and, seeing the futility of his efforts, was led to persecute them; but the reports concerning the martyrs of this period are scarce and uncertain. Particularly well known is the ruling he issued in the case against Paolo di Samosata, bishop of Antioch, who, having been deposed by a council of bishops held in that same city in 269, refused to leave the episcopal residence; the emperor decided that it should belong to the one who was in «epistolary» relations with the bishops of Italy and of the city of the Romans (Eusebio, Hist. eccl., VII, 30, 19), thereby showing that he was familiar with the organization of the Christian Church. He died at the end of August 275, killed out of private vengeance while marching against the Persians.