The Palmyrene Empire was a Syrian desert kingdom, centered at Palmyra, which split from the Roman Empire from 270 to 273. As Rome was weakened by internal strife, Shapur I of Persia saw his chance and marched upon the eastern Roman provinces. From the state of Palmyra rose a leader, Odaenathus, who repelled the Persian forces and consolidated the east in the name of Rome, but at the price of styling himself king. He was succeeded by his son, Vaballathus, a boy of ten; however, the true ruler was the regent Queen Zenobia, who aspired to imperial ambitions. In 270, she quickly conquered Rome's eastern provinces and claimed the title of empress. However, Emperor Aurelian reconquered the lost territories after a brief war in 271, conquering Palmyra and capturing Zenobia. A year later, Palmyra once more rose in rebellion, but Aurelian crushed the uprising and destroyed the city.
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