The lives of the Roman emperors from Domitian, where Suetonius ends, to Constantine the Great containing those of Nerva and Trajan from Dion Cassius : a translation of the six writers of the Augustéan history and those of Dioclesian and his associates from Eusebius and others by John Bernard ...

29. ZENOBIA.

TO the last shame of the Reign of Gal∣lienus, and of the Roman Empire under him, the Women Revolted against him, and managed their Enterprise also extraordinary well. Zenobia by name, a Foreign Lady, whom we have often already mentioned; of the Lineage of the Cleopatra's, and the Pto∣lomey's of Egypt, as she herself said; the Wife of Odenatus of Palmyra, the Emperor of the East: who dying, she assumed the Purple, the Crown, and the Authority in his place, in the name of her Sons, Herennian and Timolaus, being Infants; and she was accordingly ac∣cepted; so that whilst Gallienus lived as he did, and Claudius was taken up with the War with

the Goths, she continued her Reign longer, than it was otherwise sufferable in one of her Sex. And it was with great difficulty that she was overcome at last, and carried in Triumph by the Emperor Aurelian; who being reflected upon by some, for making a Woman a Sub∣ject of a War, and a Triumph, gives this ac∣count of her, and thus defends himself in a Let∣ter to the Senate.

Fathers of the Senate,

I Hear that it is Objected to me, that I have not performed a manly part in Triumphing over Zenobia. I assure you, those who blame me, would on the contrary sufficiently commend me, did they know, what a Woman she is. How Prudent in her Counsels, how Diligent in her Bu∣siness, how Powerful with her Soldiers, how Ge∣nerous when Necessity requires, and how Severe when there is occasion for Severity. I can say, that it was through her means, that Odenatus overcame the Persians, and putting to flight King Sapores, advanced his Arms as far as to the City of Ctesiphon. I can assure you, that this Woman was so great a Terror to the East, and to the People of Egypt, that neither the Arabians, nor the Ar∣menians, nor the Saracens dared to move for her. Nor had I preserved to her, her life, but that I know, that she did great service even by her very Usurpa∣tion; because she kept up and asserted the Bounds of the Empire. Let them therefore, who are pleased with nothing, take the Poison of their own Tongues

to themselves. If it is not Handsome to have Con∣quered and Triumphed over a Woman, what shall I say of the Emperor Claudius, that Good and Venerable Commander, who had done the same, if he had not been wholly taken up with his Expe∣ditions against the Goths. He Privately and Prudently suffered her to Reign, to give himself the greater opportunity of effecting what he was a∣bout, whilst she preserved inviolate the antient Bounds of the Empire of the East.

This shews what an Opinion Aurelian had of Zenobia.

Zenobia was a Lady of that Chastity, that she never accompanied with her Husband, more than to attempt a Conception. For after she had lain with him, she contained, and expected her Terms, to know whether she was with Child: If she was not, then she gave way to the Repetition. She lived with the Pomp of a Queen, but much according to the Persian Mode. She was Adored after the manner of the Kings of Persia, and her manner of Eating was like theirs. But she went to Harangue her Soldiers, as the Roman Emperors do, with a Helmet upon her Head, and an Imperial Robe of Purple upon her Back, buttoned with a Jewel, and Jewels a∣bout the Borders, and she shew'd one Arm ma∣ny times bare. She was of a Brown Com∣plexion, Black Eyes which were incomparably lively and glittering, a Divine Esprit, a most delicate Shape and Presence: her Teeth so bright, one would think them rather to be

Pearls: a Clear and Manly Voice. She had the Severity of a Tyrant, when necessity re∣quired; and all the Clemency of a good Prince, where there was occasion for her Goodness. Her Generosity was ruled by Prudence. She managed her Publick Treasure with a care be∣yond the Conduct of her Sex. She used a Coach, seldom a Litter, but often rode a Horse; and she walked often on Foot, it is said, three or four Miles together. She was born with the Tenaciousness of a Spaniard. A sober Woman, yet she made no scruple fre∣quently to drink with the great Officers of her Army; and also with Persians and Armenians, whom in her Table she excelled. The Vessels for her Table were of Gold, beset with Jewels. Eunuchs advanced in years served her; very seldom Women. She obliged her Sons to speak in Latin; they rarely or hardly at all spoke Greek. Nor was she altogether ignorant of Latin herself; but her modesty for fear of not doing it well, forbad her to speak it. She spoke the Egyptian Language perfectly well. It is said, she had Epitomized the Alexandrian, and the Oriental Histories, she was so well acquainted in them; and the Roman History she had Read in the Greek. When therefore she was taken and brought into the Presence of Aurelian, O Zenobia, said Aurelian to her, why have you dared to Insult, as you have done, the Emperors of Rome? she answered, I know you to be an Emperor, who are a Conqueror. But I have not thought Gallienus, nor Aureolus, or those others to be so; and

believing that Victorina might be such another as my self, I desired, if it was possible, that she and I might share the Empire betwixt us.

She was led in Solemn Triumph at Rome, in that manner, that nothing ever appeared more Pompous, and with that Grace, in the Eyes of that City. She laboured under the Burden of her Ornaments. She had such great Jewels upon her, that though she was a strong Wo∣man, she stopt many times, and cried, she could not go on for their Weight. Upon her Feet and Hands, she had Chains of Gold; and about her Neck a Chain of Gold, sup∣ported by one of her old Guards, a Persian. Aurelian gave her her life; which she spent af∣terwards with her Children at Tivoli, in the Quality, and according to the usage of a Roman Matron: an Estate was given her there for her support, near the Palace of Hadrian, and the same carries her name at this day.