Page "Gallienus" Paragraph 15

The circumstances of the usurpation were, once more, dramatic.

In Cologne, Gallienus son, Saloninus, and his supervisor Silvanus were installed by Gallienus in 258.

Postumus, a general in command of the troops on the banks of the Rhine, took possession of the booty which some raiders were carrying, after defeating them.

Instead of returning it to the original owners, he preferred to distribute it amongst his soldiers.

When these news reached Silvanus, he demanded that the spoil be sent to him.

Postumus made a show of submission but, as expected, his soldiers mutinied and proclaimed him Emperor.

Under his command, they besieged Cologne and, after some weeks, the defenders of the city opened the gates and handed Saloninus and Silvanus to Postumus who had them killed.

Again, the dating of the events is not safe but perhaps all these happened just before the end of 260.

After their death, Postumus claimed the consulship for himself and one of his associates, Honoratianus but, according to D. S.

Potter, he never tried to unseat Gallienus or invade Italy.