The memory of Odaenathus was highly esteemed in the Roman empire ; the Augustan History , written in the fourth century , place Odaenathus among the Thirty Tyrants ( probably because he assumed the title of king ) . However , it speak highly of his role in the Persian war and credit him with saving the empire : " Had not Odaenathus , prince of the Palmyrenes , seized the imperial power after the capture of Valerian when the strength of the Roman state was exhausted , all would have been lost in the East " .