Julie Aurélie Septimia Zénobie was born in Palmyra in the 3rd century AD. She was able to take advantage of the crises of the Roman Empire to establish herself as empress of the East.
Her thirst for conquest pushes her towards Egypt, a Roman province: Zenobia turns against Rome! She wants to impose her son as Eastern Roman Emperor. Zenobia's army is powerful, but it can do nothing against Roman discipline. Captured, Zenobia was not executed. Out of respect for this imperious woman, Aurélien requires her to live privately in a villa near Tivoli.