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The empire soon found solace in the leadership of a strong new
emperor however, as Lucius Domitius Aurelianus came to power in 270
AD. Aurelian, a strong and well respected general, immediately took
action, repulsing the Alemanni and Marcomanne that had been invading
Roman soil. He also evacuated Dacia, leaving it to the Goths.
Aurelian then marched on Palmyra, taking back the Romans lands that
had been lost, and then conquering the city of Palmyra, as well as
the kingdom, in 272 AD. The Gallic empire in the west was soon
defeated as well in 274 AD, although some believe that it's emperor
Tetricus was more than happy to relinquish his position. Both the
defeated Tetricus and Zenobia were paraded around Rome as tokens of
victory, and then had their lives spared.
With the empire once again secure from internal strife and marauding
barbarians, Aurelian planned to mount an offensive against the
Persians to the east. Although the campaign was started, it could not
reach it's full potential as the emperor was murdered in 275 AD by
some of his own staff members. Their reasons for betrayal are still unknown. |
