Gallienus (English spelling) Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus

Roman Emperor (reigned 253-268). As co-ruler with his father, Valerian, he reigned over the western part of the empire, preventing Germanic invasions of the Rhine and Alamanni invasions of Italy. After his father was captured by the Sassanid Persian army in 260, he worked to suppress rebellions and restore order in a time when many pretenders to the throne were popping up all over the empire, and he worked hard to maintain the unity of the empire. He also effectively counterattacked Persia (262, 266) and defeated the Goths (267), and demonstrated his skill in military reform by eliminating military control by the senatorial class and strengthening the cavalry army. However, he was assassinated in Milan by a conspiracy by his subordinates. Unlike his father, he showed a tolerant attitude towards Christianity, which, along with various reforms in governance, is notable as a stepping stone to the reconstruction of the empire, from a principality to an absolute monarchy.

[Ryoji Motomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ローマ皇帝（在位253～268）。父帝ウァレリアヌスの共同統治者として帝国西部に君臨し、ライン地域へのゲルマン人の侵入やイタリアへのアラマン人の侵攻を防いだ。260年父帝がササン朝ペルシア軍に捕らえられてのち、帝国各地に帝位僭称(せんしょう)者が乱立した時期にあって、反乱の鎮圧と治安の回復を図り、帝国の統一維持に尽力した。さらに、ペルシアへの反撃（262、266）やゴート人の撃退（267）に実効をあげ、元老院身分の軍事支配の排除および騎兵軍の充実によって軍事改革に手腕を発揮した。しかし、部下の陰謀にあってミラノで暗殺された。彼が父帝と異なりキリスト教に寛容な態度を示したことは、統治上の諸改革とともに、元首政から専制君主政に至る帝国再建の布石として特筆される。

［本村凌二］

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