Ulpius Crinitus The existence of Ulpius Crinitus has been doubted by many historians. If he did exist he would have been a dux of the Illyrian and Thracian legions. Ulpius was reportedly born in the city of Italica, in modern Spain. He took an interest in Aurelian's early career. Aurelian was reportedly his deputy for a time. When a group of Goths invaded Illyria and Thrace, Ulpius had fallen ill, so he ordered Aurelian to deal with the invaders. Aurelian was designated as legate of the Third Legion. He used his force of 2,500 auxiliaries, and the armies of four Germanic chieftains to defeat the Goths in battle. Aurelian used the resources gained from the battles to enrich the provinces. After the battle, Crinitus thanked Valerian, the emperor at the time, for providing him with such a talented deputy. Crinitus adopted Aurelian as his heir, either voluntarily or possibly through force. Emperor Valerian attended the adoption ceremony which took place in the baths of Byzantium. Following this, Crinitus disappeared from the historical record. The Historia Augusta claims that Crinitus was portrayed, along with Aurelian, in the walls of the Temple of Sol, ordered built by Aurelian after his successful Palmyrene campaign. However, no traces of this building remain.
ulpius crInitus the eXiStence OF ulpius CRInitUs has BeEn DOuBTeD by manY histORIaNS. if he Did ExIst he woULd HAvE been a dUX Of the iLlyrian anD thrAcIAN lEGions. uLPiuS WaS RePortedly bOrn in the cIty of iTaLiCA, in modern SpaiN. HE took An inteREst In aureLian's EaRly caReEr. AureLian was reportedLy HIs depUTy fOr a TimE. WHen a grOUp of goths inVaded illyria ANd tHRaCe, ulPius had falLEN ILl, So he orderEd AuRELian To deAl with THE inVAderS. aurelian wAs DEsiGNATed AS legAtE oF tHE thiRD LEGion. he used his foRce of 2,500 AuxIliariEs, anD ThE armiEs of Four germaNiC CHieFtains to dEfeat the gOths in bATtle. aurELiaN useD THE rEsOurceS gaInEd fRom tHe batTLES tO EnrIcH the ProVInCes. afTer The batTLe, crINItUS thankeD vaLErIan, tHe emperOr AT the time, for proViding Him With sUch A TAlentEd deputy. CRInItuS aDOpteD aurElIan as his hEIr, eithEr voLuNTarily Or pOssiBLY THROUgh forCe. EmperOr Valerian atteNDeD THe adoPtiON cerEmony WhiCh tooK place in the bathS oF bYzantium. folloWing this, criNItUs DisAPpeAREd From the hiStorical ReCord. The hisToria aUGusta CLaIms that criniTUs wAs PorTrayEd, AloNg wIth auReliAN, in ThE walLS oF the temple Of sol, OrDEred builT by aUreLiAn After his sucCessFuL palMYRene cAmPaIgn. hOweVEr, no tRaCes of this BuilDiNG Remain.