Italy: Aurelian (214/215-275), 44th Roman emperor, from the book Romanorvm imperatorvm effigies: elogijs ex diuersis scriptoribus per Thomam Treteru S. Mariae Transtyberim canonicum collectis, 1583

Aurelian (214/215-275 CE) rose from humble beginnings, and earned his way through the ranks of the Roman Army to a position of power and influence under Emperor Claudius Gothicus. After a brief few months when the throne was seized by Claudius' brother, Quintillus, after the former's death in 270, Aurelian ascended to become emperor by the will of his soldiers.

Like Claudius before him, Aurelian had inherited an Empire that had been effectively broken into three pieces, with the Gallic Empire in the West and the Palmyrene Empire to the East. Various Germanic and barbarian tribes also threatened the Roman Empire, and he set to work defeating them all. By 273, the Palmyrene Empire had fallen to his armies, while he conquered the Gallic Empire the following year, reuniting the Roman Empire into one complete whole once more. This feat ended the Crisis of the Third Century.

Aurelian's disdain for corruption within both his own soldiers and officials, resulting in severe punishments for anyone found guilty, eventually led to his death when a fearful secretary forged a document listing officials marked for execution by the emperor. These officials, including high-ranking officers of the Praetorian Guard, feared for their lives and murdered Aurelian. It is believed that his wife, Ulpia Severina, ruled briefly alone for a period of time before a new emperor was proclaimed, becoming the only known woman to have ruled the entire Roman Empire on her own.

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