Conditions of the Roman Empire during the reign of Valerian (253-260 AD)

Abstract

The political situation of the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Valerian is an important topic in the history of the Roman Empire in the third century AD, as this period witnessed a real crisis affecting the political, military, and economic aspects. This period is known to researchers as the Crisis of the Third Century AD. It witnessed a major military struggle over the position of emperor, and the army took it upon itself to formulate the policy of the empire by supporting coups and rebellions declared by military leaders against the political authority in Rome, which were backed by the Senate. However, Valerian’s assumption of power, despite the army’s support for him, enjoyed the support of the Senate. For the first time, the political arena in the Roman Empire during the third century AD witnessed the emperor receiving support from the army and the Senate. Valerian assumed the position of emperor in the year 253 AD and strove hard to reorganize the empire, especially in the political and economic aspects, as he shared power with Gallienus’ daughter in order to establish security and stability throughout the empire. Especially as it was exposed to attacks by Germanic tribes from the west and the danger of the Sassanian state from the east, so Emperor Valerian became responsible for the eastern side and his son Gallienus for the western side. He also made internal reforms that included economic matters and adopted a policy of hostility towards Christianity by issuing two decrees that included limiting and prohibiting the spread of Christianity in the empire. Behind these decrees were political, social and economic goals. Then he followed it by waging many external wars against his enemies, and despite the reforms that Emperor Valerian sought to implement, the empire was exposed to an epidemic and plague that killed large numbers of the empire’s sons, which was reflected in the internal conditions of the Roman Empire. He ended up being taken prisoner by the Sassanian king Shapur I in the Battle of Edessa (260 AD) This was the biggest and most dangerous event for the Roman Empire during that period.