Maeonius

Briefly Emperor of Palmyra in 267
Maeonius from the Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum
Zenobia sentences to death Maeonius, the murderer of her husband Odaenathus, end of 16th century, Bruxelles manufacture
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Crisis of the Third Century
Reign of Maximinus Thrax (235–238)
  • Death of Alexander Severus (235)
  • Harzhorn (c. 235)
  • Usurpation of Magnus (c. 235)
  • Usurpation of Quartinus (235)

Year of the Six Emperors (238)

  • Revolt of Gordian I & Gordian II (238)
  • Battle of Carthage (238)
  • Siege of Aquileia (238)
  • Reign of Pupienus & Balbinus (238)
  • Invasion of the Carpi (238–239)

Reign of Gordian III (238–244)

  • Sabinianus Revolt (240)
  • Fall of Hatra (241)
  • Resaena (243)
  • Misiche (244)

Reign of Philip the Arab (244–249)

Reign of Decius (249–251)

Reign of Trebonianus Gallus (251–253)

Reign of Aemilianus (253)

  • Antioch (253)

Reign of Valerian and Gallienus (253–260)

  • Thessalonica (254)
  • Thermopylae (254)
  • Dura-Europos (256)
  • Gothic invasion (256–257)
  • Invasion of Shapur (258)
  • Invasion of the Alemanni (258–260 approx)
  • Mediolanum (259)
  • Scythian invasion (259–260)
  • Edessa (260)

Reign of Gallienus (260–268)

Reign of Claudius Gothicus (268–270)

Reign of Aurelian (270–275)

Reign of Tacitus (275-276)

  • Gothic Invasion (276-277)

Reign of Probus (276-282)

Reign of Carus (282-283)

Reign of Carinus (283-285)

Maeonius (died 267), or Maconius, was a usurper who, according to the Historia Augusta, briefly ruled over Palmyra. He is included in the list of the Thirty Tyrants.

Life

He was the nephew (according to Zonaras xii.24) or the cousin (according to Historia Augusta) of Odaenathus of Palmyra, who had taken control of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire after the defeat in battle and capture of Emperor Valerian by Shapur I of the Sasanian Empire.

According to Historia Augusta, Maeonius killed Odaenathus and his son Hairan during a celebration, because of a conspiracy organised by Zenobia, wife of Odaenathus, who wanted her sons to succeed her husband instead of Hairan (who was the son of Odaenathus by another woman). According to Gibbon, the murder was revenge for a short confinement imposed on Maeonius by Odaenathus for being disrespectful.

Zonaras tells that Maeonius was killed immediately after the murder of Odaenathus, while Historia has Maeonius proclaiming himself emperor, with Zenobia having him soon killed, in order to take the power for herself.

References

  • George C. Brauer (1975). The Age of the Soldier Emperors: Imperial Rome, A.D. 244-284. Noyes Press. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-8155-5036-5.
  • Gibbon, Edward, The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, "Chapter XI: Reign Of Claudius, Defeat Of The Goths. -- Part III."
  • The Lives of the Thirty Pretenders, at LacusCurtius


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