Palmyra's ruler and his heir were murdered in 267, and his widow Zenobia ruled for her own son; one Roman history says she was in on the plot

Odaenathus of Palmyra defended Rome's eastern frontier. The Historia Augusta, a Roman collection of imperial lives, says he was killed by his cousin Maeonius together with his eldest son, Herodes, the child of an earlier wife. The same text says Maeonius was "said" to have conspired with Zenobia, who could not bear her stepson ranking above her own sons. Maeonius was hailed emperor and killed by soldiers. The Greek historian Zosimus says only that Odaenathus died in a conspiracy at a friend's birthday celebration in Emesa, names no plotters, and says Zenobia then took over the government. The Historia Augusta says she ruled for sons named Herennianus and Timolaus. Coins struck at Antioch name her son Vaballathus, first beside the emperor Aurelian and later as emperor himself. Aurelian defeated Palmyra in 272. The Historia Augusta says Zenobia was led in his triumph, spared, and lived with her children as a Roman matron on an estate at Tibur. Zosimus says she died on the way, of disease or hunger, and that the others were drowned between Chalcedon and Byzantium. No source settles which account is true.