| Laelian | |
| Succession: | Gallic usurper |
| Reign: | approximately late February to early June 269 (against Postumus) |
| Predecessor: | Postumus |
| Successor: | Marcus Aurelius Marius |
| Birth Place: | Gaul |
| Death Date: | 269 |
| Full Name: | Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus |
Laelian (; la|Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus),[1] also incorrectly referred to as Lollianus and Aelianus,[2] was a usurper against Postumus, the emperor of the Gallic Empire. His revolt lasted from approximately late February to early June 269.[3]
Little is known about Laelian. He shares the same nomen as a prominent Hispano-Roman family, the Ulpii, that included Trajan among its members, and may have been a relative.[4] This is supported by the strong allusion to Hispania on an aureus he struck, which featured the design of Hispania reclining with a rabbit to her side. If he indeed was a relative, this may be the reason Hispania allied itself with Claudius II, after the death of Laelian, seemingly without a struggle.
Laelian declared himself emperor at Moguntiacum (modern-day Mainz in Germany) in February/March 269,[5] after repulsing a Germanic invasion.[6] Although his exact position is unknown, he is believed to have been a senior officer under Postumus,[7] either the legatus of Germania Superior or the commander of Legio XXII Primigenia.[8] Laelian represented a strong danger to Postumus because of the two legions he commanded (Primigenia in Moguntiacum and VIII Augusta in Argentoratum);[9] Despite this, his rebellion lasted only about two months before he was executed,[10] reputedly by his own soldiers, or by Postumus' troops after a siege of Laelian's capital.[11] The siege of Moguntiacum was also fatal for Postumus; it is said he was slain when he refused to allow his troops to plunder the city following its capture.[12]
Laelian (under the Latin name Lollianus) is listed among the Thirty Tyrants in the Historia Augusta.