lian to abandon it
altogether. The rest of the Roman settlers were withdrawn to Moesia, where
a new province of Dacia was formed behind the barrier of the Danube.

*The overthrow of Palmyra.* Aurelian was now ready to attempt his second
and greater task, the restoration of imperial unity. And in this the East
first claimed his attention. There Vaballathus, the son of Odaenathus,
ruled over Palmyra, supported and directed by his mother, Zenobia. At the
outset Aurelian had recognized his position but in 271 Vaballathus assumed
the title of Augustus and thereby declared his independence of Roman
suzerainty. He was able to extend his authority over Egypt and a great
part of Asia Minor. In 272 Aurelian set out to bring back the East to its
allegiance. He speedily recovered Asia Minor, and entered Syria, where he
signally defeated the famous Palmyrene archers and mailed horsemen at
Emesa. He then crossed the desert and laid siege to Palmyra itself.
Zenobia tried to escape, but was taken, and the city surrendered. The
queen and her family were carried off to Rome but Palmyra was at first
spared. However, it rebelled again when Aurelian had set out for Rome.
Thereupon the emperor returned with all speed and recaptured the city.
This time it was utterly destroyed. The authority of Rome was once more
firmly reestablished in the East.

*The reconquest of Gaul.* Following his conquest of Palmyra, Aurelian
proceeded to overthrow the already tottering empire of the Gauls. At the
death of Postumus in 268, Spain and Narbonese Gaul had acknowledged the
Roman emperor Claudius Gothicus. After several successors of Postumus had
been overthrown by the mutinous Gallic soldiery, Publius Esuvius Tetricus
was appointed emperor in Gaul and Britain. However, foreseeing the speedy
dissolution of his empire, he secretly entered into negotiations with
Aurelian. The latter invaded Gaul and met the Gallic army at the plain of
Chalons. In the course of the battle, Tetricus went over to Aurelian, who
won a complete victory. Britain and Gaul submitted to the conqueror (274
A. D.). Thus the unity of the empire was restored and Aurelian assumed the
title of "Restorer of the World" (_restitutor orbis_).

*Dominus et deus natus.* Not only was Aurelian one of the greatest of
Roman commanders; he also displayed sound judgment in his administration.
Here his chief work was the suppression of the debased silver currency and
the issuing of a much improved coinag