Source edition
Scriptores Historiae Augustae, Volume 3. Magie, David, editor. London, New York: William Heinemann, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1932.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a historical narrative recording the lives of the Roman Emperor Valerian (Valerian the Elder), famous for his capture by the Persians, and his son, Valerian the Younger. The first half describes the international situation following Valerian's capture by the Persian King Shapur I, where neighboring rulers warn of Rome's resilient power and urge his release, followed by Odenathus of Palmyra's military repulsion of the Persians. It then recounts an earlier episode from Valerian's life before becoming emperor, detailing how he was earnestly requested by Emperor Decius to assume the censorship but declined due to his modesty and high principles. The second half briefly touches upon the short life of his son, Valerian the Younger, and corrects a misunderstanding regarding his epitaph. Finally, the author concludes the accounts of the two Valerians and announces the transition to the biographies of Gallienus and others in the subsequent volume.