Laelianus declared himself emperor at Moguntiacum in
February/March 269.After repulsing a Germanic invasion. Although his exact
position is unknown, he is believed to have been a senior officer under
Postumus, either the legatus of Germania Superior or the commander of Legio
XXII Primigenia. Laelianus represented a strong danger to Postumus because of
the two legions he commanded (Primigenia in Moguntiacum and VIII Augusta in
Argentoratum); Despite this, his rebellion lasted only about two months before
he was executed, reputedly by his own soldiers, or by Postumus' troops after a
siege of Laelianus' capital. 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.
