Question

He became Emperor after marching on Rome and killing predecessor. He co-ruled with his son Gallienus, they split the empire in half, him ruling the east and Gallienus ruling the west. He also persecuted Christians by taking over their for the government. He was captured by the Sassanids where he died in captivity.

Answer 1

Valerian was a Roman Emperor who co-ruled with his son Gallienus, dividing the empire into East and West. His tenure ended when he was captured by the Sassanids and died in captivity, which was part of the wider Crisis of the Third Century before Diocletian and Constantine's reigns.

Step-by-step explanation:

The historical figure described is Valerian, a Roman Emperor who ruled from 253 to 260 CE alongside his son Gallienus. He is known for coming to power after the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century and for his capture by the Sassanid Empire.

Valerian's reign is marked by the co-rule with his son Gallienus, where they divided the empire into East and West. Valerian took control of the Eastern provinces while Gallienus managed the West. This division was a response to the vast size of the empire and its multiple threats. This arrangement, however, ended when Valerian was captured in the East by the Sassanid Empire, leading to his death in captivity, an unprecedented event for a Roman Emperor. The crisis in Rome continued and eventually led to a more stable period with the establishment of the Tetrarchy under Diocletian and the eventual rise of Constantine who largely shaped the later stages of the Roman Empire both politically and religiously by endorsing Christianity.