GALLEN Publius Licinius Gnatia (Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus)

(mind. 268)
In 253 Gall became co-regent with his father, the emperor Valerian, who instructed him to protect the western part of the Empire, and he focused on East. Gall has conducted several successful campaigns against the ready on the Rhine, and in 258 defeated by AC Milan in Italy rushed Alamanni. Once in 260 Valerian was captured by the Persians, Halle became emperor. Finance empire in a state of chaos, the army was in great need of reform, the forces were sufficient only to have to defend Rome and the central part of the empire. Gallieni had to accept the rule of the usurper Posthuma in Gaul, and in the East to transmit successfully fought against the Persians and other enemies Odenatu, loyal to the Roman ruler of Palmyra. Later historians have blamed the collapse of Gallienus Roman Empire. However, these charges are biased and possibly associated with the removal from command posts in the army of senators and their replacement by horsemen (the Army needed an experienced commander, and not the offspring of noble birth). Another important military reform Gallienus was to strengthen the cavalry, was converted subsequently into the main arm of the Roman army mobile. The name of Gallienus is also related to prosperity, has gone through the Roman culture in a relatively peaceful period 262-267 (among his friends was, in particular, the philosopher Plotinus). Gallen, unlike his father, was tolerant towards Christians. In 268 he fell victim to a conspiracy, composed of his retinue.