The Roman Emperor Aurelian: Restorer of the World

by John F. White

Overview

Aurelian saved the Roman Empire from foreign invasion and collapse, earning him the title Restorer of the World from a grateful Senate. This is his story as restorer of the world.

The ancient Sibylline prophecies had foretold that the Roman Empire would last for 1000 years. As the time for the expected dissolution approached in the middle of the third century AD, the empire was lapsing into chaos, with seemingly interminable civil wars over the imperial succession. The western empire had seceded under a rebel emperor and the eastern empire was controlled by another usurper. Barbarians took advantage of the anarchy to kill and plunder all over the provinces. Yet within the space of just five years, the general, later emperor Aurelian had expelled all the barbarians from with the Roman frontiers, reunited the entire empire and inaugurated major reforms of the currency, pagan religion and civil administration.

His accomplishments have been hailed by classical scholars as those of a superman, yet Aurelian himself remains little known to a wider audience. His achievements enabled the Roman Empire to survive for another two centuries, ensuring a lasting legacy of Roman civilization for the successor European states. Without Aurelian, the Dark Ages would probably have lasted centuries longer. This is a new, revised edition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526781871
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	10/05/2020
Edition description:	New Revised Edition
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	922,622
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John F White is an author and a historian.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vi

Acknowledgements vii

A Note about Footnotes viii

Introduction: About the Emperor Aurelian

Chapter 1 The Crisis of the Third Century 1

Chapter 2 The Armies Choose the Emperors 9

Chapter 3 The Start of Recovery 29

Chapter 4 Aurelian - The Early Years 47

Chapter 5 Aurelian the Emperor (270-275) 65

Chapter 6 Aurelian in the East 90

Chapter 7 Restorer of the World 111

Chapter 8 Interregnum and Probus 153

Chapter 9 The Legacy of the Danubian Emperors 169

Appendix A Key Dates 189

Appendix B Consulships (Ordinarii) known from the Fasti 194

Appendix C Concordance of Place Names 196

Appendix D The Biography of Aurelian by Vopiscus 199

Notes 203

Index 215

Editorial Reviews

Incorporating new material, British historian White has revised and expanded his 2006 life of Aurelian… White weaves into this story not only Aurelian’s life, but that of several other emperors as well, plus an ongoing discussion of the evolution of the Roman Army.

Autumn 2017 The NYMAS Review

White’s account is supported by careful research, as demonstrated by extensive notes, some including interesting variant treatments of the evidence, and some very interesting appendices. Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian

StrategyPage

Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian, which can be read with profit by those with a more serious interest in thesubject as well

A. A. Nofi Strategy Page

White’s account is supported by careful research, as demonstrated by extensive notes, some including interesting variant treatments of the evidence, and some very interesting appendices. Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian

StrategyPage.com