Lucius Mussius Aemilianus (d. 261 or 262) was a Roman usurper

Roman usurper

Usurpers are individuals or groups of individuals who obtain and maintain the power or rights of another by force and without legal authority. Usurpation was endemic during roman imperial era, especially from the crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule.The...

.

Mussius Aemilianus probably was of Italian stock. He was an officer in the Roman army under Philip the Arab

Philip the Arab

Philip the Arab , also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He came from Syria, and rose to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire...

 and Valerian

Valerian (emperor)

Valerian , also known as Valerian the Elder, was Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was taken captive by Persian king Shapur I after the Battle of Edessa, becoming the only Roman Emperor who was captured as a prisoner of war, resulting in wide-ranging instability across the Empire.-Origins and rise...

. Under the latter he became praefect of Egypt. He supported the rebellion of the Macriani

Macriani

Macriani is the name of three Roman usurpers who tried to gain the Roman throne from Emperor Gallienus. They were:*Macrianus Major, the father*Macrianus Minor, first son*Quietus, second son...

 against Gallienus

Gallienus

Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...

 (260-261). When the Macriani were defeated he probably proclaimed himself emperor.

Gallienus sent his general Aurelius Theodotus

Theodotus

in workTheodotus is the name of:*Theodotus of Aetolia *Theodotus Hemiolius *Theodotus of Chios *Theodotus of Byzantium *Theodotus *Theodotus of Rome...

 to Egypt to deal with Aemilianus. After a short struggle Aemilianus was defeated (before 30 March 262), captured, and later strangled in prison. Also his possible supporter Memor

Memor

Memor was a Roman usurper against Emperor Gallienus.Memor was a Northern African Roman official, responsible for the Egyptian grain supply to Rome. After the defeat of the Macriani usurpers, Emperor Gallienus sent his general Aurelius Theodotus to Egypt to secure his hold on the province....

was executed.