Valerian II (Latin: Publius Licinius Cornelius Valerianus) (c. 238/239 – 258 AD) was the elder son of the Roman Emperor Gallienus and Salonina, and the grandson of Emperor Valerian I. He held the rank of Caesar from 256 until his death in 258, and was briefly designated co-emperor alongside his father and grandfather.
Early Life and Appointment as Caesar
Born around 238 or 239 AD, Valerian II was a member of the prominent Licinian gens. In 256, during the co-reign of his grandfather Valerian I and his father Gallienus, he was elevated to the rank of Caesar. This appointment was a strategic move by the emperors to solidify the imperial dynasty and to delegate authority, particularly in the volatile frontier regions of the Roman Empire during the tumultuous period known as the Crisis of the Third Century.
As Caesar, Valerian II was dispatched to the region of Illyricum and the Danube frontier to represent imperial authority. His role was largely symbolic, serving as a figurehead for the imperial presence while actual military and administrative duties were carried out by experienced commanders. He was placed under the guardianship of Ingenuus, the military commander responsible for the provinces of Pannonia and Moesia.
Death
Valerian II died in 258 AD in Illyricum, at the young age of approximately 19 or 20. The exact circumstances surrounding his death are not definitively known. While some ancient sources suggest he succumbed to a natural illness, others imply he may have been murdered. Some historians speculate that Ingenuus, his guardian, might have been involved in his death, which could have been a precursor to Ingenuus's later rebellion against Gallienus. His untimely death was a significant blow to the imperial family during a period of intense political and military instability. Following his death, his younger brother, Saloninus, was subsequently elevated to the rank of Caesar.
Significance
Despite his brief tenure and largely symbolic role, Valerian II's appointment as Caesar is illustrative of the Roman imperial practice of designating heirs and deploying members of the imperial family to critical sectors of the empire. This strategy aimed to ensure dynastic continuity and to project imperial authority across the vast Roman territories more effectively. His premature death contributed to the ongoing political instability of the era and indirectly set the stage for subsequent rebellions by regional commanders like Ingenuus, who sought to capitalize on the vacuum of imperial power.