Claudius II Gothicus (268 - 270CE)

Claudius II Gothicus (September 268 - January 270CE). Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius was a talented general under Valerian and Gallienus. He purportedly conspired against Gallienus and was proclaimed emperor upon Gallienus' assassination. Shortly thereafter, he and his cavalry commander, Aurelian, routed a huge army of Goths and won one of the greatest victories in the history of the Roman Empire at the Battle of Naissus, gaining the surname "Gothicus." He died of smallpox after a reign of two years and was deified by the Senate.