The Palmyrene armies, led by Zabdas and Zabbai, next drive into the Roman territories to the north, capturing large swaths of Asia Minor as far as Ancyra and ...

...Chalcedon.

The invasion results in success, marking the greatest extent of Palmyrene dominance over the east once they reach Ancyra.

The invasion paves the road for Zenobia's imperial claims and her subsequent breakaway and the independence of the short-lived Palmyrene Empire.

The reason why Palmyrene queen has resorted to using military force to strengthen her authority in the East is unclear, but the refusal of Roman officials to recognize Palmyrene authority will be suggested as a reason, so Zenobia's expeditions are intended to maintain Palmyrene dominance.

Another factor may been the weakness of Roman central authority and its corresponding inability to protect the provinces, which has harmed Palmyrene trade and had probably persuaded Zenobia that the only way to maintain stability and prosperity in the Roman East is direct Palmyrene control over the region.

Also, Bostra and Egypt receive trade that would have otherwise passed through Palmyra, while the Tanukhid tribes near Bostra and the merchants of Alexandria have probably attempted to rid themselves of Palmyrene domination, all of which trigger military action from the queen.

Zenobia is in de facto control of the all-important Egyptian grain supply on which Rome so depends.

The stance of the Roman empire towards Palmyrene authority in Egypt and the east in general will be debated by historians: Aurelian's acceptance of Palmyrene rule in Egypt may be inferred from the Oxyrhynchus papyri, which are dated by the regnal years of the emperor and Vabalathus.

Although it is extremely unlikely that Aurelian would have accepted such power-sharing, he was unable to act due to crises in the west.

It will be suggested that his apparent condoning of Zenobia's actions may have been a ruse to give the queen a false sense of security to buy time to prepare for war.

In any case, it appears that Aurelian's apparent tolerance is to secure and ensure the continuation of the supply of Egyptian grain to Rome; as it is not recorded that the supply had been cut after the invasion, and the grain had reached Rome in 270 as usual.

The Alamanni, allied with the Juthungi, had again invaded northern Italy in late 270.

Aurelian, almost immediately after being proclaimed emperor, quick-marches an army north to Mediolanum to confront the invaders at …

…heading for Rome.

Aurelian rallies and reorganizes his troops, follows the invaders, and overtakes them at Fano in central Italy, where he wins a victory.

The Alamanni withdraw northward from Fano, Aurelian's army in pursuit.

The Romans engage the Alamanni at Pavia and practically annihilate them there; the remnants of the invaders flee homeward across the Alps; Aurelian chases the Juthungi across the Danube.

Aurelian on his return to Rome brutally quells a revolt at the imperial mint that has cost the lives of some seven thousand soldiers.

He has several senators put to death or confiscates their properties.

For protection against tribal incursions and to cheer the inhabitants of Rome, who have succumbed to panic, the emperor orders the construction of a new city wall (much of which still stands and still bears his name).

When complete, it is to stand twenty feet high, twelve feet wide, and twelve miles long.

The Aedui, a Gallic tribe inhabiting the country between the Arar (Saône) and Liger (Loire) in today's France, had revolted against the reduced Gallic empire and were defeated in autumn 270, their final stronghold being finally overcome after seven months of siege.

Victorinus, a persistent womanizer, is rumored to have seduced, possibly even raped, wives of his officials and entourage.

Attitianus, one of his officials, learns that Victorinus has propositioned his wife, and the emperor is murdered in early 271.

The murderers seem to have had no political agenda and it is not surprising that there is a period of confusion after his death.

Domitianus, who probably commands troops close enough to one of the mint-cities of Trier or Cologne and who strikes coins to advertise his elevation, presumably serves for a few days as emperor before being replaced by the Gallic noble Gaius Pius Esuvius Tetricus, governor of Aquitania, which extends from the Pyrenees to the Loire.

Tetricus—backed, apparently, by the money and influence of Victorinus' mother, Victoria, who is also a relative—is in spring 271 proclaimed emperor of Gaul, Britain and northern Spain.

Before he can reach the imperial capital Augusta Trevorum (Trier), however, Tetricus must fend off a German invasion, the invaders perhaps the remnants of the Alamanni defeated by Aurelian.