Aurelian (214/215-275 CE) rose from humble beginnings; and earned his way through the ranks of the Roman Army to a position of power and influence under Emperor Claudius Gothicus. After a brief few months when the throne was seized by Claudius' brother; Quintillus; after the former's death in 270; Aurelian ascended to become emperor by the will of his soldiers.

Like Claudius before him; Aurelian had inherited an Empire that had been effectively broken into three pieces; with the Gallic Empire in the West and the Palmyrene Empire to the East. Various Germanic and barbarian tribes also threatened the Roman Empire; and he set to work defeating them all. By 273; the Palmyrene Empire had fallen to his armies; while he conquered the Gallic Empire the following year; reuniting the Roman Empire into one complete whole once more. This feat ended the Crisis of the Third Century.

Aurelian's disdain for corruption within both his own soldiers and officials; resulting in severe punishments for anyone found guilty; eventually led to his death when a fearful secretary forged a document listing officials marked for execution by the emperor. These officials; including high-ranking officers of the Praetorian Guard; feared for their lives and murdered Aurelian. It is believed that his wife; Ulpia Severina; ruled briefly alone for a period of time before a new emperor was proclaimed; becoming the only known woman to have ruled the entire Roman Empire on her own.