THE ROMAN EMPEROR AURELIAN
RESTORER OF THE WORLD

By John F. White

Revised and updated edition published by Pen & Sword Ltd (UK) in November 2015.
ISBN 978-1-47384-569-6. 256 pages. 24 black&white photographs. Hardback. £19.99.

The ancient Sibylline prophecies had foretold that the Roman empire would last for 1,000 years. As the time for the dissolution approached in the middle of the 3rd Century AD, the empire was lapsing into chaos with seemingly interminable civil wars over the imperial succession. Barbarians took advantage of the anarchy to kill and plunder all over the provinces; the western empire had seceded under a rebel emperor and the eastern empire was controlled by another usurper. Yet within the space of just five years, the general/emperor Aurelian (270-275 AD) had expelled all the barbarians from within the Roman frontiers; he had re-united the entire empire; and he had inaugurated major reforms of the currency, pagan religion and civil administration.

His accomplishments have been hailed by classical scholars as those of a ‘superman’, yet Aurelian himself is scarcely known to a wider audience. His achievements enabled the Roman empire to survive for another two centuries, ensuring a lasting legacy of Roman civilisation for the successor European states. Without Aurelian, the ‘Dark Ages’ would probably have lasted centuries longer.

“The Roman Emperor Aurelian - Restorer of the World” describes these extraordinary times (the title ‘Restorer of the World’ was awarded to Aurelian by the Roman Senate). The book provides all the necessary background for a lay or casual reader and also examines the consequences of Aurelian‘s achievements and what happened afterwards. There is additionally a substantial section describing the 3rd-Century Roman army.

• Novelty - there is no similar book in the English language aimed at students, enthusiasts for Roman history or those specialists interested in the events of the Late Roman Empire who want a readily digestible account of the period that immediately preceded it.
• New research - unlike many “popular” Roman histories, I have not simply re-worked the classic Latin writers and/or Gibbon. I have researched each item personally.
• Rare photographs - used with permission from the British Museum and CNG Coins. Also some private photographs from Rome.
• Unique portrait of Aurelian - commissioned by the author from a professional portrait artist, and relying ultimately on Aurelian‘s profile on his coins.

Updated 6 October 2015.