Solitary Journey

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In the summer of 260, Emperor Valerian confronts a Persian army in Syria. He is defeated and captured-the first Roman emperor to suffer this humiliation in Rome's thousand-year history. His army is destroyed. A number of generals and senators are killed or taken captive. Local successes against the Persians by several surviving Roman generals prompt one of them to revolt. That fall, the governor of Germania also revolts. Gallienus, now sole ruler of a seriously weakened empire, then makes two controversial alliances. He entrusts defense of the eastern provinces to Odenathus, the king of Palmyra, a Roman citizen and effective opponent of Persian aggression. Along the Danube, Gallienus concludes a treaty with the chieftain of a powerful Germanic tribe and marries the chief's daughter. But Gallienus is already married. Roman law forbids having more than one spouse. After his father's defeat, two revolts, and invasions from hostile tribes, Gallienus risks losing support of the Senate, who now questions his moral as well as his military judgement. Additional barbarian invasions and further betrayals threaten to overwhelm Gallienus as he struggles to overcome these mortal challenges to his reign.