Aurelian and the Third Century

by Watson; Alaric

• ISBN13: 9780415072489
• ISBN10: 0415072484
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-04-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In his brief reign, Aurelian contributed more to the recovery of the Roman empire than any other individual of his time. He decisively repelled the German invaders threatening the Danube and crushed the enemies, Zenobia and Tetricus. Among his other achievements, he also introduced major monetary reforms and constructed the defensive walls around Rome that still bear his name to this day. Aurelian and the Third Centuryprovides a re-evaluation in the light of recent scholarship of the difficulties facing the Roman empire in the AD 260s and 270s, concentrating upon the reign of the emperor Aurelian and his part in surmounting them. It includes an introduction that examines the socio-cultural context of the mid-third century, and follows with a chronological examination of the military and political events of the period from 268 to 276 and an analysis of the importance of the achievements and events of Aurelian's reign.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
List of abbreviations	xiii
List of dates	xiv
Introduction: the third-century `crisis'	1	(20)
PART I `Restorer of the World'	21	(102)
A divided empire	23	(16)
Aurelian ascendant	39	(18)
Zenobia and the east	57	(13)
The Palmyrene Wars	70	(19)
War in the west: the reunification of the empire	89	(12)
The end of Aurelian	101	(22)
PART II Internal Policies	123	(80)
Economic reforms	125	(18)
Public works and administration	143	(16)
The emperor, the senate and the armies	159	(24)
The emperor and the divine	183	(20)
Conclusion	203	(6)
Appendix A: excursion on sources	209	(6)
Appendix B: problems of chronology	215	(11)
Notes	226	(55)
Bibliography	281	(6)
Index	287