Queen Zenobia   Temples Theater Tombs Museum Desert Palaces   His widow Zenobia succeeded him to power on behalf of her second son Vahballat (Vaballathus), but Gallienus denied Vahballat the titles granted to Odeinat. The queen was not afraid to fight with Rome, and her armies won victory against Heraclianus who attempted to win back the provinces recently reconquered. With the help of her prime minister Longinus (Dyonisius Cassius Longinus), she strengthened the power of Palmyra and in 269, when Claudius had to face the invasions of the Goths, she sent her armies under the command of Zabdas to conquer Egypt and Asia Minor. In 270 the Palmyranian armies had arrived as far as Bithynia and Aurelian, who had just succeeded Claudius, met with Zenobia: he acknowledged the titles of Vahballat But the important concessions granted to Zenobia satisfied far from her ambitions. In 271 Vahballat bestowed on himself the title of Augustus, proclaimed independence and minted coins in his effigy and his mother's. Thereafter Aurelian launched against Palmyra a wide-scale expedition, and while Probus reconquered Egypt, the emperor entered Asia Minor, conquered Thyana and pursued the armies of Palmyra, winning his first victory before Antioch At Emesis, Zenobia's armies suffered a complete defeat and were compelled to withdraw to Palmyra.     Previous - Next
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