Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus, Gallic emperor, 259 - 268

Postumus was a very able general, appointed by the emperor Valerian I to guard the Rhine provinces. In 259, for reasons which are not clear, he rebelled against the authority of the emperor Gallienus murdering Gallienus's son and co-emperor, Saloninus, and successfully broke away Gaul, Spain and Britain from central Roman rule. This so-called Gallic Empire was to last for fifteen years. He ruled his empire moderately and wisely, keeping barbarian incursions at bay, and putting down the usurpation of Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus. Shortly after the defeat of Laelian, however, he was assasinated, probably by his own troops.