Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus was a Roman commander of provincial origin who ruled as emperor in the west. The Roman army in Gaul threw off its allegiance to
Gallienus around the year 260, and Postumus assumed the title and powers of emperor in the provinces of
Gaul,
Germania,
Britannia and
Hispania, thereby founding what scholars have dubbed the
Gallic Empire. He ruled for the better part of ten years before he was murdered by his own troops.