Zenobia (240 – 274, or
later in Rome), queen of Palmyra, is certainly one of the most fascinating
women of Ancient History. Her husband Odaenathus was an ally of Rome and served
as a buffer against the Persians. After his assassination in 267 AD, she took
over his position – and extended her empire, much to the dismay of the Romans.
But as the Romans had to face various crises in the West, there was little they
could do and for the moment they thought it best to keep her as a guard against
the Persians. She was not anti-Roman, but tried to keep a good relationship
with Rome. This intention was not reciprocal and it was Aurelian (270- 275) who
defeated and captured her in 274. Instead of killing her, he saved her life and
had her displayed in a triumph at Rome. This was not to everyone’s liking: a woman
in a triumph?!, but Aurelian defended himself by sending a letter in which he
praised her capacities as a leader. This letter is found in the Historia Augusta, but as this source ill-famed
for its unreliability, the genuineness of this letter is doubtful. Her fate
after the Triumph is not certain: according to most sources she was killed, but
the Historia Augusta states that she was
spared and was granted to live in a villa near Rome. I wish I could believe
that.
In the Historia Augusta her life is described in
the section about the life of the Thirty Pretenders – those who strove to be
emperor, but did not succeed. Grudgingly the writer has to admit that she,
though a woman, reigned very well. The link below gives more information
Historia Augusta: Zenobia 4-12.
4 Exstat epistula Aureliani,
quae captivae mulieri testimonium fert. nam cum a quibusdam reprehenderetur,
quod mulierem veluti ducem aliquem vir fortissimus triumphasset, missis ad
senatum populumque Romanum litteris hac se adtestatione defendit: 5 "Audio,
patres conscripti, mihi obici, quod non
virile munus impleverim Zenobiam triumphando. ne illi, qui me reprehendunt,
satis laudarent, si scirent quae illa sit mulier, quam prudens in consiliis,
quam constans in dispositionibus, quam erga milites gravis, quam larga, cum necessitas
postulet, quam tristis, cum severitas poscat. 6 possum dicere illius esse quod
Odaenathus Persas vicit ac fugato Sapore Ctesiphonta usque pervenit. 7 possum
adserere tanto apud orientales et Aegyptiorum populos timori mulierem fuisse ut
se non Arabes, non Saraceni, non Armenii commoverent. 8 nec ego illi vitam
conservassem, nisi eam scissem multum Romanae rei publicae profuisse, cum sibi
vel liberis suis orientis servaret imperium. 9 sibi ergo habeant propriarum
venena linguarum ii quibus nihil placet. 10 nam si vicisse ac triumphasse
feminam non est decorum, quid de Gallieno loquuntur, in cuius contemptu haec
bene rexit imperium? 11 quid de divo Claudio, sancto ac venerabili duce, qui
eam, quod ipse Gothicis esset expeditionibus occupatus, passus esse dicitur
imperare? idque consulte ac prudenter, ut illa servante orientalis fines
imperii ipse securius quae instituerat perpetraret." 12 haec oratio indicat quid iudicii Aurelianus
habuerit de Zenobia.
reprehendo reprehendi reprehendum: to rebuke, find fault, reprehend (subject: Aurelian)
triumpho: to
lead in triumph
missis litteris:
with a letter sent (ad)
patres conscripsi: the Senators
mihi obici:
to be hold against me
virile munus:
a manly deed
impleo: to
fulfil
ne illi…satis lauderent: in order that they…would
not praise enough
quae: what
kind of
dispositio –onis (f.): management, handling
gravis –is:
severe
largus:
giving abundantly, liberal
tristis –is:
harsh
illius esse quod: that it is thanks to her that
Sapor: king
of the Persia (241 – 272). This event took place in 243, but the next year he
defeated the Romans.
Ctesiphon:
capital of Persia (Ctesiphonta usque
= usque Ctesiphonta)
assero asserui assertum: to add
tanto…timori mulierem: that the woman was (till) such a terror (predicative
dative)
conservo: to
spare
prosum: to
be useful
cum...servaret:
as she kept/saved
orientis imperium
venenum: venom
quid de:
what about
Galienus:
Roman Emperor (252 – 268), who had to deal with many insurgences
cuius: Galienus
haec:
Zenobia
Claudio: Emperor
Claudius Gothicus (268 -270) He designated Aurelianus as his successor before his
death.
Gothicis …expeditionibus: in 268 or 269 Claudius defeated a Gothic army at Naissus
(modern Niš, a place in Serbia)
eam…passus esse dicitur imperare: is said that he endured/allowed her to reign
idque: and
this even
consulte:
considerately
illa servante:
abl abs. with orientalis fines imperii
as object of servant
quae instituerat perpetraret = perpetraret (ea), quae instuerat: he could accomplish, what he had planned
Translation by David Magie
(1932)
4 There is still in
existence a letter of Aurelian's which bears testimony concerning this woman,
then in captivity. For when some found fault with him, because he, the bravest
of men, had led a woman in triumph, as though she were a general, he sent a
letter to the senate and the Roman people, defending himself by the following
justification: 5 "I have heard, Conscript Fathers, that men are reproaching me
for having performed an unmanly deed in leading Zenobia in triumph. But in
truth those very persons who find fault with me now would accord me praise in
abundance, did they but know what manner of woman she is, how wise in counsels,
how steadfast in plans, how firm toward the soldiers, how generous when
necessity calls, and how stern when discipline demands. 6 I might even say that
it was her doing that Odaenathus defeated the Persians and, after putting Sapor
to flight, advanced all the way to Ctesiphon. 7 I might add thereto that such
was the fear that this woman inspired in the peoples of the East and also the
Egyptians that neither Arabs nor Saracens nor Armenians ever moved against her.
8 Nor would I have spared her life, had I not known that she did a great
service to the Roman state when she preserved the imperial power in the East
for herself, or for her children. 9 Therefore let those whom nothing pleases
keep the venom of their own tongues to themselves. 10 For if it is not meet to
vanquish a woman and lead her in triumph, what are they saying of Gallienus, in
contempt of whom she ruled the empire well? 11 What of the Deified Claudius,
that revered and honoured leader? For he, because he was busied with his
campaigns against the Goths, suffered her, or so it is said, to hold the
imperial power, doing it of purpose and wisely, in order that he himself, while
she kept guard over the eastern frontier of the empire, might the more safely
complete what he had taken in hand." 12 This speech shows what opinion
Aurelian held concerning Zenobia.
