Blue glass bust of Emperor Saloninus. It is located in the Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany.
Saloninus, also called Saloninus, was the son of Emperor Gallienus; became emperor after the death of his brother Valerian II in 258 CE Gallienus’ young son, Saloninus, together with his tutor Sylwan, was in Colonia Agrippina (present-day Cologne). His father wanted to keep his son away from the fighting on the Danube, and at the same time he wanted to keep an eye on the ambitious Postumus, the later creator of the so-called the Gallic Empire.
Postumus was an able governor of Upper and Lower Germania. He proved it, among other things, in the summer of 260 CE, when he repulsed the Frankish invasion on the Rhine. His victory was so successful that for the next 10 years there were no further invasions from this side. In this way, Postumus became with time one of the most influential and decision-making persons in the western part of the Empire.
About 260 CE Postumus, who had been the governor of the province of Germania, took advantage of the weakening of the army against the minor son of Emperor Galien, Saloninus and his guardian, Silvanus. Both Saloninus and Silvan had to be murdered.
