Septimius Haddudan | |
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High Priest of the Temple of Bel | |
Monarch | Odaenathus |
Personal details | |
Born | Palmyra, Roman Syria |
Parents | Septimius Ogeilu Haddudan |
Septimius Haddudan was a 3rd-century Palmyrene official, the only known Palmyrene senator other than Odaenathus, [1] and a priest and symposiarch of the god Bel, [2] who is known to have opposed the rule of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra and aided the Roman Empire during their wars against the queen.
Haddudan is a rather obscure figure, so there is very little known about his origins. He was most likely born in Palmyra, and an inscription at the Temple of Bel reveals his ancestry, where he is recorded as "The son of Septimius Ogeilu Maqqai". [2]
Like Odaenathus and many other important Palmyrene officials at the time, his family adopted the surname of the Severi as a sign of loyalty to the imperial throne. [3] His father was extremely loyal to Odaenathus, and he made a dedication in his honor. [4] Haddudan's family were also credited by some historians as the "king-makers" of Odaenathus. [2]
He is known to have opposed the rule of Queen Zenobia who rebelled against the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century, and later to oppose the rebels who tried to defy Emperor Aurelian after the capture of Zenobia. [1]
He is mentioned in an inscription at the Temple of Bel mentioning his help to the Romans during the Palmyrene revolts. [5] [2] The inscription styles him as "The high priest Septimius Haddudan, illustrious senator, son of Septimius Ogeilu Maqqai, who had aided the army of Aurelian Caesar", [2] which shows that the priests of the Temple of Bel were probably among the first of the Palmyrenes to support the Emperor Aurelian and defy Zenobia. [2] Although it is implied that he had helped the Romans in one way or another during the Palmyrene revolts, it is unknown how, why and when, [6] as the line giving the Seleucid date is damaged. [7]
It is probable that he had aided the Romans during the short-lived rebellion of 273 when the Romans were waging war on the Capri in the Balkans, [8] but it is also possible that the inscription refers to his military cooperation during the Siege of Palmyra and the subsequent capture of Zenobia and her son in 272. [8]
Whatever the "help" he supposedly gave to the Romans, it's feasible that he was Aurelian's choice of local leader or figurehead after the capture of Zenobia in 272, with there being a need to place someone at the head of local administration in the city, and also likely that he facilitated in the restoration of law and order after the rebellion. [8]
His fate, like many other Palmyrenes after the sack of the city by the Romans under Aurelian, remains unknown. But it was likely that he was spared for his help for the empire.
Haddudan is a minor character in JD Smith's 2014 highly fictionalized work of historical fiction, The Rise of Zenobia, as well as in Judith Weingarten's The Chronicle of Zenobia. In the latter work, Haddudan is represented as cold, calculating and ruthless.
In the 1996 highly fictionalized Syrian soap opera, Al-Ababeed (The Anarchy), based on 3rd century Palmyra, the character of Elahbel in the show, the powerful, ruthless and treacherous Palmyrene courtier who betrays Zenobia and gives aid to the Romans, played by Salloum Haddad, appears to be based on Haddudan.
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The 270s decade ran from January 1, 270, to December 31, 279.
Septimia Zenobia was a third century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria. Many legends surround her ancestry; she was probably not a commoner and she married the ruler of the city, Odaenathus. Her husband became king in 260, elevating Palmyra to supreme power in the Near East by defeating the Sassanians and stabilizing the Roman East. After Odaenathus' assassination, Zenobia became the regent of her son Vaballathus and held de facto power throughout his reign.
Year 272 (CCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Postumius and Veldumnianus. The denomination 272 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Claudius Gothicus, also known as Claudius II, was Roman emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alemanni and decisively defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus. He died after succumbing to "pestilence", possibly the Plague of Cyprian that had ravaged the provinces of the Empire.
Lucius Julius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorusc. 259–74 AD) was emperor of the Palmyrene Empire centered at Palmyra in the region of Syria. He came to power as a child under his regent mother Zenobia, who led a revolt against the Roman Empire and formed the independent Palmyrene Empire.
The Battle of Emesa was fought in 272 between the Roman armies led by their emperor Aurelian and the Palmyrene forces led by their queen, Zenobia and general Zabdas.
The Battle of Immae was fought in 272 between the Roman army of Emperor Aurelian, and the armies of the Palmyrene Empire, whose leader, Queen Zenobia, had usurped Roman control over the eastern provinces.
The Palmyrene Empire was a splinter state centered at Palmyra which broke away from the Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. It encompassed the Roman provinces of Syria Palaestina, Arabia Petraea, Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor.
Zabdas was a 3rd century Syrian general who led the forces of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra during her rule as regent of her son Vaballathus and her subsequent rebellion against the Roman Emperor under the short-lived independent Palmyrene Empire. He led Palmyra's expeditions in the middle east which included annexing territory spanning from Roman Egypt to Asia Minor.
Callinicus, surnamed or nicknamed Sutorius or Suetorius, sometimes known as Kallinikos of Petra or Callinicus of Petra was an ancient Greek historian of Arab descent, Orator, Rhetorician and Sophist who flourished in the 3rd century.
Aurelius/Iulius Marcellinus was a Roman soldier and Imperial functionary who had a brilliant equestrian career and was elevated to the Senate when he was chosen by the Emperor Aurelian as his consular colleague. His appointment as Consul is thought to have been a reward for his loyalty and steadfastness in 273 when, as Aurelian's deputy in charge of the eastern provinces of the Empire where the authority of the Imperial Government had only recently been restored, he resisted attempts to suborn him by a rebellious faction in the city of Palmyra.
The Battle of Ctesiphon took place in 263 between the Sassanid Empire and Palmyrene army under the Palmyrene king Odaenathus. Following the Sasanians' defeat and loss of Syria and Cappadocia to the Roman Empire at the hands of Odaenathus and Balista; The Palmyrene monarch invaded Mesopotamia and stood at the walls of Ctesiphon and devastated the region around it, however he could not conquer it. The logistical problems of fighting in enemy territory forced the Palmyrenes to leave the siege carrying with them numerous prisoners and booty. The prisoners were sent to Rome, enabling the Roman emperor Gallienus to hold a triumph.
The Siege of Tyana occurred in 272 AD. The forces of the Roman Emperor Aurelian were seeking to conquer the Palmyrene Empire.
Septimius Worod was a Palmyrene official and a viceroy for king Odaenathus of Palmyra. He was given the surname Septimius by his monarch.
Septimius Herodianus or Hairan was the son and co-king of Odaenathus of Palmyra. Through his father's marriage to Zenobia, Hairan had a half brother with the same name Hairan II.
Hairan II was a Palmyrene prince, the son of king Odaenathus and, possibly, his second wife Zenobia.
The Sack of Bostra occurred around the spring of 270 AD when Queen Zenobia of Palmyra sent her general, Zabdas, to Bostra, the capital of Arabia Petraea to subjugate the Tanukhids who were challenging Palmyrene authority.
The Palmyrene invasion of Egypt occurred in the summer, or possibly in October, of 270 AD when the forces of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, led by her general Zabdas and aided by an Egyptian general named Timagenes, invaded and subsequently annexed Egypt, which was under control of the Roman Empire at the time.