Eastern Mediterranean 271: Palmyrene invasion of Asia Minor

Zenobia’s empire reached its greatest extent in 271, when her Palmyrene troops advanced across the western Asian provinces as far as Chalcedon. That same year the Roman emperor Aurelian finally completed his suppression of the various Roman usurpers and barbarian invaders that had threatened Italy and the Balkans since his accession in 270, then readied his forces to take on Zenobia.

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Main Events

271 Zenobia’s invasion of Asia

In late spring 271, although still officially loyal to Aurelian, the forces of Zenobia of Palmyra marched westward into Asia Minor and seized control of Ancyra in Galatia. They then advanced as far as Chalcedon, but were repulsed by locally raised Bithynian troops and forced to withdraw. In the province of Asia, Virius Lupus, Odaenathus’ governor of Syria Coele, took power, although by 272 his allegiance had shifted to Aurelian. in wikipedia

271 Septimius

In 271 the officer Septimius declared himself emperor in Dalmatia, possibly inspired by the multitude of threats facing Aurelian at this time. Little else is known of his rebellion, except that he was soon put to death by his own troops. in wikipedia

271 Aurelian’s Gothic War

In the summer of 271 the Goths crossed the Danube and proceeded to ravage Roman territory as far as Thrace and Illyricum. They were intercepted by Aurelian as he marched eastward to fight Zenobia, then chased back across the Danube. Fighting the Goths in their own territory, Aurelian killed the Gothic leader Cannabaudes and 5,000 of his followers, bringing an end to Gothic invasions of the Roman Empire for many years. in wikipedia