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Biography of Valerian
Name: Valerian
Birth Date: c. 200
Death Date: c. 260
Place of Birth: N/A
Nationality: Roman
Gender: Male
Occupations: emperor
Valerian
The Roman emperor Valerian (ca. 200-ca. 260), or Publius Licinius Valerianus, attempted to stay the advances of the barbarians and the Persians on Roman territory and was a vigorous persecutor of the Christians.The background of Valerian prior to his accession as emperor is uncertain. He had evidently had both civic and military experience and had served with sufficient distinction to be awarded the consulship. He was popular with the Senate. One source mentions him as part of a delegation coming from North Africa to support the usurping Gordian emperors against Emperor Maximinus Thrax (238). He probably held an important position under Emperor Trajan Decius (249-251), and there may be a connection between his service under that emperor, a persecutor of Christians, and his own anti-Christian activity.Emperor by DefaultValerian must also have been highly regarded by Emperor Trebonianus Gallus, for when Gallus was challenged by the usurper Aemilianus, Gallus had Valerian gather …showed first 150 words…
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…showed last 150 words…the city, Valerian was captured by Shahpur. The circumstances of his capture are uncertain. Some sources say that he was seized by a ruse, and others that his army was overwhelmed. In any case the Persian king was extremely proud of his prize and carved monumental cliff reliefs showing Valerian kneeling before him. Christian writers depict a harsh captivity for Valerian, but this may reflect a desire to see justice done by God for Valerian's persecution of the Christians. Whatever the circumstances, Valerian seems to have died within a short time of his capture. His son Gallienus succeeded him. Further Reading Part of an ancient biography of Valerian survives in the Scriptores historiae Augustae. It contains many inaccuracies. The 5th-century historian Zesimus also has an account of Valerian. For a general discussion see the Cambridge Ancient History, vol. 12 (1939). The persecutions are dealt with in Patrick J. Healy, The Valerian Persecution (1905).
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