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beasts of burden; and in this way he is said to have passed through the ravine. And so much for the affairs of Valerian; the church of the Romans was led by Xystus, that of the Antiochenes by Demetrianus, having succeeded Flavianus, that of Jerusalem by Hymenaeus, Mazabanes having died, and that in Alexandria was presided over by Dionysius. 3.143 After Valerian, Gallienus his son became master of the Roman empire, whom his father, while campaigning against the Persians, had left in the west to oppose those lying in wait in Italy and those plundering Thrace. He, engaging the Alamanni, who were about three hundred thousand, near Mediolanum with ten thousand, was victorious; then, going out against the Heruli, a Scythian and Gothic race, he prevailed. He also warred against the Franks. Aureolus, being from the country of the Getae, later called Dacia, and sprung from an obscure family, for he happened to be a shepherd before, but fortune, wishing to raise him to greatness, he served in the army, and having become very skillful, he was appointed master of the imperial horses. And distinguishing himself in these duties, he seemed pleasing to the emperor. And when the soldiers in Mysia revolted and proclaimed Ingenuus emperor, and Gallienus arrayed himself against him around Sirmium, bringing with the others also the Maurusii, who are said to be descended from the Medes, Aureolus, as commander of the cavalry, fighting bravely with the horsemen, destroyed many of the partisans of Ingenuus and put the rest to flight, so that Ingenuus himself despaired of escape and while fleeing was killed by his own bodyguards. Then Postumus rose up against Gallienus. For this emperor had a son of the same name, who was skillful and handsome, whom he also had as 3.144 successor to the empire, he left in the city of Agrippina, to bring aid to the Gauls who were being ravaged by the Scythians. And he appointed a certain Albanus over him, on account of his son’s youth. But Postumus was left to guard the river Rhine, so as to prevent the barbarians dwelling on the other side from crossing into Roman territory. He attacked some who had secretly crossed the river and were carrying off much plunder on their return, and he killed many, and took back all the plunder, and immediately he distributed it to the soldiers. When Albanus learned this, he sent and demanded that the plunder be brought to him and to the young Gallienus. And Postumus, calling the soldiers together, collected the plunder from them, scheming to incite them to rebellion; which also happened. And with them he attacked the city of Agrippina, and the people of the city handed over to him both the son of the emperor and Albanus, both of whom he killed. When Gallienus learned these things, he went against Postumus, and having engaged him was at first defeated, but then prevailed, so that Postumus fled. Therefore Aureolus is sent to pursue him. But he, although able to overtake him, did not wish to pursue him far, but returned and said that he had not been able to catch him. Postumus, having thus escaped, again assembled an army. And again Gallienus marched against him, and having shut the tyrant up in a certain city of Gaul, he besieged him. But during the siege the emperor is struck in the back by an arrow, and falling ill from this, he broke off the siege. And another war was stirred up for Gallienus 3.145 by Macrinus, who, having two sons, Macrianus and Quietus, attempted a tyranny. And he himself, because he was lame in one of his legs, did not put on the imperial robe, but put it on his sons. And those in Asia gladly received him; and he, having tarried a short while against the Persians, prepared to march against Gallienus, and he set Balista over against the Persians, whom he himself had appointed commander of the cavalry, and with him he also left his son Quietus. Therefore the emperor sends Aureolus against Macrinus and Macrianus his son, along with other generals. and having engaged them