Brief introduction of Zenobbi Ya

Zenobbi Ya (240 BC, the date of death is unknown) was the Queen of Palmerin who challenged the authority of the Roman Empire. In the second half of Roman history, it was called the crisis of the third century (235-284 CE), which allowed the region to secede through the constant civil war, thus forming * * *.

Historians have noticed that this crisis was caused by widespread social unrest, economic instability and, most importantly, the disintegration of the empire, which was divided into three independent regions: Gaul, Rome and Balmiller. The chaos of the central government made any attempt to control the peripheral areas regarded as secondary, so for a time, the empire was divided into three different political entities, including Zenobbi.

Contrary to popular belief, Zenobbi Ya never led an uprising against Rome, probably never was shut up in the streets of Rome, and almost certainly was not executed by Emperor Aureliano (reigned from 270 to 275). The ancient materials about her life and rule include the historian Zosims (AD 490), the historian Augusta (about the 4th century AD), the historian Zonaras (AD12nd century) and the historian Altabari (AD 839-923). Their records follow the records of Adi Ibn Zaid (6th century AD).

Although all these materials think that Queen Zenobbi of Baal Milla challenged the authority of Rome, none of them describe her behavior as complete rebellion. Of course, this view of her rule depends on people's definition of "rebellion". Although she was careful not to have a direct military conflict with Rome, it is obvious that she ignored the authority of Rome more and more in the process of establishing herself as the legitimate monarch of the East.

Zenobbi signed a trade agreement without consulting Rome or even considering its interests, and added its territory to her empire.

Early life and marriage

About 240 AD, Zenobbi Ya was born in palmira, named Julia Oreglia Zenobbi Ya. Syria was a province of Rome at this time, and it has been so since115/116 was annexed. Zenobbi Ya is a Roman citizen, because her father's family acquired this status earlier, probably during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (16 1- 180). Augusta claims that her father can trace his lineage back to the famous Roman Sevilen dynasty You Liya Domna dynasty (lost in 170-2 17 CE).

Zenobbi was educated in Greek and Latin. Although he may have their difficulties, he is proficient in Egyptian and Aramaic, from the legendary ancestors who claimed to be Carthage and Cleopatra VII. According to the * * version of the story told by Al-Tabari, when she was young, she was assigned to manage the family's sheep and shepherds, so she gradually got used to ruling men.

Al-Tabari also claimed that it was time for her to master horse riding and learn her later famous endurance and endurance. According to the records, she will take troops on an expedition on foot, can hunt like anyone, and can drink anyone's wine. Historian edward gibbon described the Queen in a passage in his famous book:

Zenobbi Ya is perhaps the only woman who has broken through the servile laziness imposed on her by the Asian climate and etiquette with her outstanding talent. She claims that she is a descendant of the king of Macedonia in Egypt, and her beauty is not inferior to that of her ancestor Cleopatra, but her chastity and courage are far superior to that of the princess. Zenobbi Ya is regarded as the cutest and bravest among women. She has a dark complexion. Her teeth are as white as pearls, and her big black eyes shine with unusual light, with the most charming sweetness. Her voice is powerful and harmonious. Through study, her masculinity has been strengthened and modified. She is not ignorant of Latin, but proficient in Greek, Syrian and Egyptian. She painted a miniature of oriental history for herself, and compared the beauty of Homer and Plato under the guidance of the noble Ron Girnus. ( 128- 129)

This passage is introduced in detail here because it is mainly taken from the description of Zenobbi Pass in Augusta's history, and because Gibbon's works have a great influence on how to understand Queen Milla in the future. In these two books, she is described as a woman with outstanding ability, which is also the evaluation of ancient readers and future generations.

Even in literature, she is not so heroic but more indulgent and is described as a famous queen. In addition to other virtues repeated in ancient literature, her chastity is always mentioned in particular. She believes that sex can only be used to have children, and refuses to sleep with her husband after marriage unless it is used to have children.

In 258 AD, Zenobbi Ya married Lucius Sepp Tiems Odentus, the governor of Rome and Syria, and she had at least one son with her, Vabaratus. She is Odense's second wife, and he and his first wife have a son and heir, Herod. Dantas ruled a very prosperous region, especially Baal Milla, which was an important trade center on the Silk Road between East and West. Businessmen travelling to and from Rome had to stop in Milla to pay taxes and have a rest.

But from around 227 AD, the Persians of Sassanian dynasty stopped trading from time to time, and they blocked this route regularly to pay tribute accurately. Silk was one of the most popular commodities in Rome before Augustus (27 BC to 14), and the Romans were not satisfied with these trade interruptions. Shapur I, King of Sassanian Dynasty (in 240-270/272 AD) occupied Antioch, one of the most important trade centers in Rome, which was intolerable.

In 260 AD, the Roman emperor Valerian (reigned from 253 to 260 AD) marched towards the Sassanian dynasty, and was defeated and captured by them. It is said that he was later used as a footstool for riding by Shapur I until his death in captivity, and then he was made into a specimen and exhibited. His son Gaglini uz was unable to save the situation, so Oden marched on the Sassanians, defeated them and drove them back to the Euphrates River, far from Syria. Although O 'Dantas claimed that he was trying to save Valerian for the benefit of Rome, he actually had another motive: he tried to form an alliance with Shapur I, but was rejected before he became his enemy.

Because of his contribution to Rome, Oden was appointed as the governor of the whole Eastern Roman Empire. In 26 1 AD, when Que Etus, the usurper, challenged Gaglini's rule, Odentus defeated him and killed him. From then on, he had enough power and prestige to effectively rule his territory, almost independent of Rome. In 266/267 AD, he and his son Girod had an argument after a hunting trip and were assassinated by his nephew. Although some sources claimed, or at least implied, that Zenobbi Ya murdered him so that her son could become king, most later writers and historians denied this.

Rise and conquer Egypt

Nuo Ze Biya later became Regent, because Vabaratus was underage. She went to court with intellectuals and philosophers, including Platonists Gaius Gaius Cassius Longinus Langjinus Langjilnas (L. 2 13-273 CE), and was later accused of encouraging her to break with Rome. So far, the relationship between Barr Milla and Rome has been very friendly, because Odentus' military action is beneficial to Rome and himself.

After Zenobbi came to power, she adhered to her late husband's policy. In the Roman chaos characterized by crisis in the 3rd century, 26 emperors came and went as emperors. Did Odense ever think that he could prove himself to be the next Gallienus hotel and accumulate wealth through looting in Sassanian City? After his death, Zenobbi may think that her son, even herself, can rule Rome and continue her husband's rule. Historian Richard Stoneman wrote:

In 267, five years after Odense's death, Zenobbi Ya became the mistress of the East in the eyes of her people. Living in a palace is just one of the many glories of one of the most magnificent cities in the East. It is surrounded by the courtyard of philosophers and writers, served by old eunuchs, and dressed in the best silk brocade that Antioch or Damascus can provide. She inherited the reputation of military success and the reality of efficient Bedouin soldiers. With great strength and influence, she began one of the most striking challenges to Rome, even in that turbulent century. Rome is now suffering from the invasion of barbarians in the north, and there is no strongman to protect it in the East ... Syria has temporarily lost its mind. ( 155)

Gallienus was assassinated in 268 AD and succeeded by Claudius II, who later died of fever and was succeeded by Quintulus in 270 AD. During this period, Zenobbi's policy changed steadily. In 269 AD, seeing that Rome was busy with its own problems and didn't notice her, he sent his own general Zabudas to lead an army into Rome, claiming that it was his own.

However, even at this point, she was careful to avoid conflict with Rome. In the absence of the governor of Rome, a Syrian Egyptian named Timanez launched a rebellion against Roman rule. Zenobbi's March into Egypt can be interpreted as a battle in favor of Rome. However, Tima Gene seems to be the instigator sent by Zenobbi, providing an excuse for the invasion. The Syrians succeeded at first, but were later driven out of Egypt by the returning Roman army. The Romans were not satisfied with just driving the invaders out of Egypt, but chased the Syrians across the border into Syria, and then the Syrians fought back and wiped out the Roman army.

Once she owned Egypt, she conducted diplomatic negotiations with the Levant and Asia Minor and joined their growing empires. With Rome in turmoil, the rising and wealthy Balmiller Empire will be an attractive choice for local rulers in these areas, while Rome is still busy with internal disputes and cannot take any measures against the expanding empire of Zenobbi. Although it is obvious that she is building her own empire against Rome, she has not taken any measures to ensure an open conflict with the empire.

At this time, Aureliano was the emperor, and Zenobbi made coins, one of which was the image of Vabalatus, and the other was Aureliano, as the common ruler of Egypt. She carved the honorary inscription of Aureliano in palmira and wrote his name in the official letter. But at the same time, she adopted the title of Augustus for Vabalatus and Augusta for herself, which was only the privilege of the Roman royal family. She also signed trade agreements, negotiated with the Sassanian Persians, and added territory to her empire without consulting Rome or even considering its interests. By 27 1 year, she ruled an empire, extending from present-day Iraq, through Turkey and all the way to Egypt.

Zenobbi and Aureliano.

Although other emperors didn't notice what Zenobbi was doing, or had no resources to do anything at all, Aureliano was a very different ruler. He was promoted from infantry to general, and now he is promoted to emperor, first as a soldier and then as a politician. When he took office, he had to fight the Vandals, alemanni and the Goths, but in 272 AD, he planned to recover the eastern provinces from Zenobbi. He didn't send a letter from the special envoy asking for an explanation, and he didn't wait for Zenobbi to do it himself. He led the whole army into the Balmiller Empire.

Entering Asia Minor, he destroyed all the towns loyal to Zenobbi Ya, repelled all kinds of bandit attacks in the March, and reached Taiana, the hometown of apollonius, a famous philosopher admired by Oreland. In his dream, apollonius came to Aureliano and advised him to be kind if he wanted to win, so Aureliano spared the city and moved on. Compassion proved to be a very wise policy, because other cities realized that they had better surrender to the benevolent emperor instead of provoking him by resisting. After Tyana, no city opposed him and declared their loyalty to Aureliano before he reached their gate, so he soon arrived in Syria.

Before that, we didn't know whether Zenobbi Ya tried to get in touch with Aureliano. It is reported that there was a letter between them after he arrived in Milla, but it was considered as a later invention. The letter he wrote to her at the beginning of the campaign asking her to surrender and the arrogant response she gave in Augusta's history were also considered as fabrications to highlight Oleland's kind and reasonable attitude towards the conflict, in sharp contrast to Zenobbi's arrogant response.

In 272 BC, when Aureliano marched, Zenobbi Ya assembled her army. The two armies met outside Daphne and started the battle of Imai. Aurelio even pretended to retreat, and then put on a pincer formation when Pa Miao Lei's troops were exhausted, thus winning the battle. The Palimians were defeated and then slaughtered. Zenobbi Ya herself and her general Zabudas fled to Mesa, where she had more people and stored them in her treasury.

When she regrouped and reorganized her troops, Aureliano pursued her, the troops met again in the battle outside Aimesa, and the Romans won again, using exactly the same tactics as they used in Aimei. They pretended to retreat before the gentle chasing cavalry, and then turned from a favorable position to attack them. Balmy's army was destroyed, and Aureliano occupied the city. Presumably, he plundered the state treasury. However, Zenobbi Ya escaped again.

She went to Baal Milla to defend the city there, and then Aureliano besieged the city. Historian edward gibbon wrote: "She retreated within the walls of the capital, made all preparations for fierce resistance, and bravely declared that the last moment of her rule should be the same as her life" (13 1). We don't know if she announced something similar, but it is obvious that she wants reinforcements and help from the Persians. When it failed to arrive, she fled palmira with her son on a camel, trying to reach safety in Persia.

Aureliano entered Baal Milla and found that she was missing, so he sent cavalry to arrest her. She was arrested while trying to cross the Euphrates River. She was locked back to Oreland, where she was innocent and blamed her actions on the poor advice given by her advisers (mainly cassius Lang Gilnas), who was immediately executed. Zenobbi Ya was then taken back to Rome.

The last day in Zenobbi.

What happened to her next depends on the account you read. According to Zosims, she and her son drowned in the Bosphorus when they were transported back to Rome, but he also claimed that she arrived in Rome without her son, was tried and acquitted; Then she lived in a villa and finally married a Roman.

The history of Augusta tells the story of her walking on the streets of Rome wearing a gold chain in the Battle of Aureliano. After that, she was released and got a palace near Rome, where she "spent her last days quietly" in luxury. Zonaras claimed that she was taken back to Rome, never chained in the street, and married a rich Roman husband, while Aureliano married one of her daughters.

Like other writers, Al-Tabari never mentioned Aureliano or Rome in his narrative. In Al-Tabari's narrative, Zenobbi Ya murdered a tribal leader named Jadhima on their wedding night, and his nephew sought revenge. The nephew chased Baal Milla, and she fled to the Euphrates River on a camel. Earlier, she ordered to dig a tunnel under the river in case her plan went wrong and she needed to escape. In the story, she just went in when she was caught. Then she either killed herself by drinking poison or was executed in another version of the story.

Therefore, the end of Zenobbi Ya's life depends on the most credible sources. Augusta, the historical record, has always been regarded as a reliable source to make dates, events and even a version of the Roman emperor's rule, which people deal with to present it. Stoneman wrote:

About several aspects of her interest and personality, we have got a wealth of information from Augusta's history-although it must be remembered that the colorful details provided by the works are almost unbelievable, because the author, like many ancient historians, wrote down his true feelings. ( 1 12)

Zonaras, especially Zosims, is considered more reliable. It seems that she will be taken to Rome by Aureliano, but this may not be part of his victory. Aureliano was very worried about what the Romans would think of his conquest of a woman, and that Rome made a woman strong enough to master one-third of the shame of the empire.

It seems unlikely that he wants to attract more attention to Zenobbi Ya, and her famous story of wearing a gold chain in Rome has appeared in paintings and sculptures since then, which is probably fictitious. Therefore, the story of her trial, acquittal and later life in Rome is the most likely. There is no record of the time and manner of her death, but there is no western data to show that she was executed. It is believed that this version of death was introduced into her legend through her version of the story.

Zenobbi Ya became one of the most popular ancient figures in medieval legends. As the legacy of a great fighting queen and a clever ruler, she was surrounded by the smartest people of her time, who influenced painters, artists, writers and even later monarchs, such as Russia's Catherine the Great (1729- 1796 reigned). She compared herself to Zenobbi, and compared her court to that of Baal Milla. Her life story was mainly passed on to these descendants through Augusta's history and Gibbon's works, which described Queen Baal Milla as a respectable and valuable opponent of Rome and a great heroine of the ancient world. This is how people still remember her today.