GALLIENO (Imp. P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus), ROMAN EMPEROR. — Born around 218, died at Milan in July 268. Son of Valerian and Egnazia Mariniana, he married Cornelia Salonina, by whom he had two sons. In 253 he was associated by his father in the government of the Empire, but until 260 he engaged only in military activity, fighting especially against the barbarians who were making incursions along the northern frontiers of the Empire.
Following his father’s death in 260, he remained sole ruler, at a very critical moment for the Empire, which was beset by internal revolts, epidemics, and barbarian raids from outside. G., however, displayed remarkable energy: he reformed the army, successfully fought usurpers and enemies, protected the arts and culture, and promoted Hellenism and the mystery religions, through which he hoped to remove the masses from the influence of Christianity. Yet toward Christianity, both because he had been instructed by his father’s disastrous experience and because of the influence of his wife, a great admirer of Christians, he showed himself rather benevolent, to such an extent that Dionysius of Alexandria called him most religious and a great lover of God. Indeed, he suspended the edict of persecution issued by his father, granting the bishops broad freedom to exercise their office; he also ordered that the churches and cemeteries confiscated from the communities be restored, entrusting this task to the procurator Aurelius Cinerius. Nevertheless, because of the anarchy prevailing in the Empire, which under him produced the so-called period of the « thirty tyrants », the benefits of this religious policy were not felt everywhere, and there were some martyrs, such as Marinus at Caesarea in Palestine. It must be said, however, that G. bore no responsibility for this, since it was officials and popular uprisings that caused those disorders. G. was killed at Milan by a conspiracy of generals, as he was preparing to fight the usurper Aurelius.