Zenobia is the queen of Palmyra and de facto sovereign of the eastern part of the Roman world. She rules Alexandria, her ancestral city, claims descent from Cleopatra, and stands as a power equal to Rome and Persia.
| Type | Character |
| Title | Queen of Palmyra |
| Seat | Palmyra; Alexandria |
| Spanish entry | Zenobia |
Lineage and power
- Blood: her Cleopatran descent gives her a claim on Egypt.
- Arms: inherited from her late husband, Odaenathus, who “stopped the Persians”; that merit still sustains Palmyra against Rome.
- Legitimacy: the Roman senate never named her empress. She rules de facto, not de jure.
Her slogan, «Vengo a liberar Egipto» (“I come to liberate Egypt”), serves as title, banner and justification.
Domain
Her power covers “all this part” of the Roman east; loyalty there is declared to her, not to the senate. Travelers stand toward her as allies or subjects; Pablo is a declared ally, and some call her “my sovereign”.
The announced war
It has been stated that “there will be war between Zenobia and Aurelian”. Its outcome decides whether Egypt is liberated or returns to Rome.
Conflicting accounts
- Most records place her in Palmyra and Alexandria.
- A later account holds that “Zenobia exists in Spain, in fact; that is where Torreón and all the hosts came from.”
Open questions
- Whether the war with Aurelian is announced, under way or still avoidable is not recorded.
- Her appearance, court, army and seat are not described, nor the exact extent of her domain.
- The terms of Pablo’s alliance with her are not recorded.