Aurelius, surnamed Gothicus, signified himself by his courage and prudence under the reigns of Valerian and Julian; and on the death of the latter was declared emperor in 268. He put to death Aureolus, the murderer of Gallienus; defeated the Germans; and in 269 marched against the Goths, who ravaged the empire with an army of 300,000 men, which he at first harried, and next year entirely defeated; but a contagious disease, which had spread through that vast army, was caught by the Romans; and the emperor himself died of it a short time after, aged 56. Pollio says, that this prince had the moderation of Augustus, the virtue of Trajan, and the piety of Antoninus.