Zenobia

The Syrian queen who challenged Rome and founded the Palmyrene Empire.

Life

Queen of the desert

Zenobia was the wife of Odaenathus, ruler of Palmyra, an oasis city in the Syrian desert. She is said to have spoken several languages and claimed descent from Cleopatra. When her husband was assassinated in 267 CE, she took power in the name of her young son.

Crisis of the Third Century

Taking advantage of Rome's Crisis of the Third Century, her army conquered Egypt in 270 CE and then took control of most of Asia Minor; for a time Palmyra was an eastern empire rivaling Rome.

Captured

In 272 CE the Roman emperor Aurelian marched east, defeated the Palmyrene army twice and captured the city of Palmyra; Zenobia was captured while fleeing toward Persia. She is said to have been brought to Rome to walk in his triumph, and then lived out her life in Italy.

Legacy

Zenobia is one of the most famous women rulers of antiquity, and her portrait once appeared on Syria's currency.

Did you know? She is said to have been paraded in golden chains so heavy that attendants had to hold them up.

Key dates

• 267Husband assassinated; she takes power
• 270Conquered Egypt
• 272Defeated and captured
• 274Paraded in a Roman triumph