The Crisis of the Third Century marked the end of the Principate, the early phase of Imperial Roman government. A series of soldiers, the Barracks Emperors, assumed the highest office, leading to the breakdown of the previous system of Imperial government, in which the Emperor had functioned within the fiction of a preservation of the old republican forms of government. The crisis came to a close with Diocletian, who reformed the Imperial office and initiated the period known as the Dominate. Emperor Maximinus Thrax, ruled 235-238, was the first of the emperors during the Crisis of the Third Century. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire. ... This article is about a military rank. ... Barraks Emperor is the way Roman Emperors who ruled during 235–268 are collectively known. ... The office of Roman Emperor went through a complex evolution over the centuries of its existence. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (c. ... The accession to the purple on November 20, 284, of Diocletian, the lower-class, Greek-speaking Dalmatian commander of Caruss and Numerians household cavalry (protectores domestici), marked a major departure from traditional Roman constitutional theory regarding the Emperor, who was nominally first among equals; Diocletian introduced Oriental despotism... The Dominate was the despotic last of the two phases of government in the ancient Roman Empire between its establishment in 27 BC and the formal date of the collapse of the Western Empire in AD 476. ...

The crisis begins

The accession to the purple of Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus "Thrax" ("the Thracian") marks the rise of the first "Barracks Emperor" par excellence. Whereas the previous military Emperors (Vespasian, Septimius Severus) had come from noble or middle-class plebeian families, Maximinus was born a commoner of a low-class family in a disreputable part of the Empire, and had begun his career as an enlisted soldier (miles). Remarkably, Maximinus never visited Rome while Emperor. Furthermore, his reign represents one of the last sallies of the increasingly impotent Senate's attempts to control the Empire; the Senate backed two pairs of co-Emperors from its own number against Maximinus. Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus (c. ... Thraciae veteris typvs. ... Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... Lucius Septimius Severus (b. ...

• Maximinus Thrax ("Imp. Caesar C. Iulius Verus Maximinus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. C. Iulius Verus Maximinus), 235 – 238
• Co-Emperors: Pupienus and Balbinus ("Imp. Caesar M. Clodius Pupienus Max. Aug." and "Imp. Caesar Decius Caelius Calvinus Balbinus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Clodius Pupienus Max. and Decius Caelius Calvinus Balbinus, respectively), 238

Maximinus "Thrax" was commander of new recruits on the Rhine frontier when Alexander Severus was murdered by mutineers; he was acclaimed Emperor by his troops in March 235, and in January 238 put down a rebellion by the governor of Africa Proconsularis (i.e., modern Tunisia) and his son, Gordian I and Gordian II; Gordian was a consular of distinguished family and reigned 20 days with his son as co-Emperor. Immediately afterward the Senate backed a second pair of co-Emperors, the patrician consulars Pupienus and Balbinus, and Maximinus was murdered by his own troops in April that year. The senatorial co-Emperors were murdered by the Praetorian Guard a month later in May 238, having reigned 99 days. Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus (c. ... Events Maximinus Thrax becomes Roman Emperor. ... Events Carpians invade Moesia, Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them. ... Pupienus. ... Events Carpians invade Moesia, Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them. ... Events Maximinus Thrax becomes Roman Emperor. ... Events Carpians invade Moesia, Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them. ... Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus ( 159 – April 12, 238), known in English as Gordian I, was Roman Emperor during the year 238. ... Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus (around 192 - April 12, 238), known in English as Gordian II, was Roman emperor during the year of 238. ... Pupienus. ... Events Carpians invade Moesia, Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them. ...

Gordianan dynasty

The accession to the purple of Gordian III retroactively created a dynasty out of the ill-fated African uprising of the Gordiani; as they did not successfully overthrow Maximinus, the preceding Gordiani are more properly regarded as failed usurpers than as Emperors, but Gordian's accession makes the family a quasi-dynasty, which may or may not be regarded as having been restored to the purple à la Severi. Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (January 20, 225 - February 11, 244), known in English as Gordian III, was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. ... Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus ( 159 – April 12, 238), known in English as Gordian I, was Roman Emperor during the year 238. ... Usurpers were a common feature of the late Roman Empire, especially from the so-called crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule. ...

Gordianan emperors

• Gordian III ("Imp. Caesar M. Antonius Gordianus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Antonius Gordianus), 238 – 244

Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (January 20, 225 - February 11, 244), known in English as Gordian III, was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. ... Events Carpians invade Moesia, Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them. ... February 11 - Emperor Gordian III is killed by his Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab after Phillip replaces Timesitheus and then declares himself co-emperor. ...

Dynastic relationships

Gordian I's wife Fabia Orestilla bore him two sons (Gordian II and a son of unknown name) and a daughter (Maecia Faustina); that daughter was mother of Gordian III, who was therefore grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II.

More instability

The accession to the purple of Philip the Arab marks the second time that a praetorian prefect supplanted his Emperor (the first being Macrinus); this Syrian soldier (once erroneously thought to have been a Christian) was succeeded by the first Emperor from the former Illyria, Decius (a noble senator of distinguished career), who was also the first Emperor to have been killed in battle with a foreign enemy (the Goths). Another African, Aemilianus from Jerba off the coast of southern Tunisia, donned the purple. Marcus Julius Philippus (c. ... Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature. ... Macrinus on an aureus. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Illyria Illyria (disambiguation) Illyria (Anc. ... Bust of Traianus Decius. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... Aemilianus celebrating peace-maker Mars god of war. ...

• Philip the Arab ("Imp. Caesar M. Iulius Philippus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. M. Iulius Philippus), 244 – 249
  • M. Iulius Philippus, 247 – 249 (as "Imp. Caesar M. Iulius Philippus P.F. Invictus Aug.")
• Decius ("Imp. Caesar C. Messius Q. Traianus Decius P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. Q. Decius Valerinus), 249 – 251
• Trebonianus Gallus ("Imp. Caesar C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. C. Vibius Trebonianus Gallus), 251 – 253
  • Hostilian, 251 (as "Imp. Caesar C. Valens Hostilianus Messius Q. P.F. Invictus Aug.")
  • C. Vibius Volusianus, 251 – 253 (as "Imp. Caesar C. Vibius Volusianus P.F. Invictus Aug.")
• Aemilianus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aemilius Aemilianus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. M. Aemilius Aemilianus), 253

Philip the Arab was praetorian prefect under the late Gordian III, whose own soldiers mutinied against him. He installed his son Marcus Julius Philippus as co-Emperor, but both were killed in 249 by partisans of Philippus's rebellious governor of Moesia and Pannonia, the consular Decius. Decius's younger son, Hostilian, was subsequently adopted by and proclaimed co-Emperor with Trebonianus Gallus in June 251 (and promptly died of plague in July); Trebonianus Gallus replaced Decius's son with his own, Volusianus, but father and son co-Emperors were murdered in August 253 by partisans of Trebonianus Gallus's own rebellious governor of Moesia Superior, the consular Aemilianus, who was murdered by his own soldiers after a reign of 88 days. Marcus Julius Philippus (c. ... February 11 - Emperor Gordian III is killed by his Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab after Phillip replaces Timesitheus and then declares himself co-emperor. ... Events Trajan Decius becomes Roman emperor. ... Events Births Deaths Categories: 247 ... Events Trajan Decius becomes Roman emperor. ... Bust of Traianus Decius. ... Events Trajan Decius becomes Roman emperor. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... Trebonianus Gallus on a coin celebrating Aeternitas. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Hostilian celebrating Securitas, the security of the Roman Empire. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... Volusianus protrait on a tetradrachm. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Aemilianus celebrating peace-maker Mars god of war. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Events Trajan Decius becomes Roman emperor. ... Events July 1 – In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed. ... For the book see 253 (book). ...

Valerianan dynasty

The founder of the short-lived Valerianan dynasty, Valerian, was of a particularly distinguished patrician, Etrurian family, the Licinii. For his efforts at retrieving the badly deteriorating situation in the East, the Senate awarded him the titles Restitutor Orientis ("Restorer of the East"), Restitutor Generis Humanis ("Restorer of the Human Race") and finally Restitutor Orbis ("Restorer of the World"), but these honours fail to overcome the ignominy wherewith his reign ended: Valerian was the first Emperor to be captured by a foreign enemy, and was used as a footstool by the Great King Shapur I of Persia, who after Valerian's death had his skin stuffed and put on display (the only other Emperor to have been so humiliated was Rhomanos IV eight hundred years later in 1071). Valerian on a coin celebrating goddess Fortuna, associated with health and wealth. ... The area covered by the Etruscan civilzation. ... A coin of Shapur I Shapur I, son of Ardashir I, was king of Persia from 241 to 272. ... Romanus IV Romanus IV (Diogenes), Byzantine emperor from 1068 to 1071, was a member of a distinguished Cappadocian family, and had risen to distinction in the army, until he was convicted of treason against the sons of Constantine X. While waiting for his execution he was summoned into the presence... Events Byzantine Empire loses Battle of Manzikert to Turkish army under Alp Arslan. ...

Further major developments troubled the reign of P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus: several significant rebellions arose against Gallienus's rule, including the establishment of the independent, so-called Gallic Empire (composed of Gallia, Britannia, and Hispania) in 261 by Postumus, and Gallienus erected a co-Emperor in all but name in Septimius Odenathus, king of Palmyra (Gallienus gave Odenathus the titles Dux Romanorum, "Leader of the Romans", and Corrector Totius Orientis, "Corrector of the Whole East"). Gallienus depicted on a lead seal Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (218-268) ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and then as the sole Roman Emperor from 260 to 268. ... The Gallic Empire (in Latin, imperium Galliarum) is the modern name for the independent realm that lived a brief existence during the Roman Empires Crisis of the Third Century, from 260 to 274. ... Gallia may mean several things: Gallia was the Latin name for Gaul. ... Britannia on a 2005 £2 coin. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iberian Peninsula. ... Events Births Deaths Mussius Aemilianus, Roman Emperor Categories: 261 ... Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus was emperor of the Gallic Empire from AD 259 to 268. ... Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), Palmyrene אחינל = little ear), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a famous prince of Palmyra, in the second half of the 3rd century AD, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the Persians and restoring it to the Empire. ... A general view of the site Palmyra was in the ancient times an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 120 km southwest of the Euphrates. ...

Valerianan emperors:

• Valerian ("Imp. Caesar P. Licinius Valerianus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. P. Licinius Valerianus), 253 – 260
  • P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus, 253 – 260 (as "Imp. Caesar P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus P.F. Invictus Aug.")
• Gallienus ("Imp. Caesar P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus), 260 – 268
  • Note: Gallienus had been co-Emperor with Valerian (as "Imp. Caesar P. Licinius Egnatius Gallienus P.F. Invictus Aug.") from 253 until his own accession to the purple
  • Cornelius Licinius Saloninus Valerianus, 260 (as "Imp. Caesar Cornelius Licinius Saloninus Valerianus P.F. Invictus Aug.")

Valerian on a coin celebrating goddess Fortuna, associated with health and wealth. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ... Gallienus depicted on a lead seal Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (218-268) ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and then as the sole Roman Emperor from 260 to 268. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ... Gallienus depicted on a lead seal Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (218-268) ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and then as the sole Roman Emperor from 260 to 268. ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ... Events The Alamanni invade Italy. ... For the book see 253 (book). ... Publius Licinius Cornelius Saloninus (242 - 260) was Roman Emperor in 260. ... Events Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor. ...

Dynastic relationships

Valerian's wife Egnatia Mariniana bore him two sons (Egnatius Gallienus and Valerianus). Gallienus himself had by his wife Julia Cornelia Salonina three sons (Valerianus, Saloninus, and Egnatius Marinianus). Egnatia Mariniana probably was the wife of Roman Emperor Valerian and mother of Emperor Gallienus. ...

The crisis at its height

The murder of Gallienus left his Dalmatian cavalry commander, Marcus Aurelius Claudius "Gothicus" ("conqueror of the Goths"), to don the purple. The Emperor from Illyricum recovered Hispania from the Gallic Empire, but Septimius Odenathus's widow, Zenobia, broke with him and began to seize power in the East for herself (in 272 she began styling herself "Zenobia Augusta"). Lucius Domitius Aurelianus built the first new wall around Rome, defeated Zenobia and recovered the lands of the Empire claimed by Palmyra, and reclaimed the remainder of the Gallic Empire; for his efforts at reunifying the Empire he was titled Restitutor Orbis ("Restorer of the World"). Aurelianus's successor Marcus Claudius Tacitus received a similar title, Restitutor Rei Publicae ("Restorer of the Republic"). Gallienus depicted on a lead seal Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (218-268) ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and then as the sole Roman Emperor from 260 to 268. ... Claudius Gothicus on a coin celebrating his equity (AEQUITAS AUGUSTI). ... This article is about an ancient civilization in southeastern Europe; see also Illyria (software), Illyria (character in the TV series Angel). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iberian Peninsula. ... The Gallic Empire (in Latin, imperium Galliarum) is the modern name for the independent realm that lived a brief existence during the Roman Empires Crisis of the Third Century, from 260 to 274. ... This article is about the Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. ... Events Roman emperor Aurelian reconquers the kingdom of Palmyra (Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor), forcing queen Zenobia to flee to Parthia. ... For other uses, see Augustus (disambiguation). ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... Emperor Tacitus on a coin. ... For the Estonian political party, see Union for the Republic - Res Publica. ...

• Claudius II "Gothicus" ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Claudius P.F. Invictus Augustus"; b. M. Aurelius Claudius), 268 – 270
• Quintillus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Claudius Quintillus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. M. Aurelius Claudius Quintillus), 270
• Aurelianus ("Imp. Caesar L. Domitius Aurelianus P.F. Invictus Aug."; b. L. Domitius Aurelianus), 270 – 275
• Tacitus (Imp. Caesar M. Claudius Tacitus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Claudius Tacitus), 275 – 276
• Florianus ("Imp. Caesar M. Annius Florianus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Annius Florianus), 276
• Probus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Probus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Aurelius Probus), 276 – 282

Claudius II "Gothicus" died of plague in August 270, and was briefly succeeded by his brother, Quintillus, who committed suicide in September and allowed the purple to pass to his own cavalry commander, Aurelianus, who was himself murdered by his Praetorian Guard (again). Tacitus was an elderly senator and probably a general brought out of retirement when it was realised that no-one stood ready to don the purple after Aurelianus's death, and was murdered after six months and succeeded for 88 days by his praetorian prefect, Florianus, who promptly became the third Emperor murdered in 276. Probus, a formidable general of unknown family from the Danube frontier, next donned the purple, only to be murdered at the instigation of his praetorian prefect, Carus (see below). Claudius Gothicus on a coin celebrating his equity (AEQUITAS AUGUSTI). ... Events The Alamanni invade Italy. ... Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... Quintillus picture on a coin. ... Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... Events Eutychian elected pope (probable date) September 25 - Marcus Claudius Tacitus appointed emperor by the senate Births Eusebius of Caesarea (approximate date) Saint George, soldier of the Roman Empire and later Christian martyr (or 280, approximate date). ... Emperor Tacitus on a coin. ... Events Eutychian elected pope (probable date) September 25 - Marcus Claudius Tacitus appointed emperor by the senate Births Eusebius of Caesarea (approximate date) Saint George, soldier of the Roman Empire and later Christian martyr (or 280, approximate date). ... Events Sassanid Shah Bahram II succeeded Bahram I. Probus became Roman Emperor. ... Hercules crowning Florianus. ... Events Sassanid Shah Bahram II succeeded Bahram I. Probus became Roman Emperor. ... This antoninianus minted under Probus (c. ... Events Sassanid Shah Bahram II succeeded Bahram I. Probus became Roman Emperor. ... Events Carus becomes Roman emperor A new city was constructed in Fuzhou slightly south of the original city Ye. ... Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... Events Sassanid Shah Bahram II succeeded Bahram I. Probus became Roman Emperor. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, Iranian *dānu, meaning river or stream, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river in the European Union and Europes second longest river. ...

Caran dynasty

The Caran dynasty was a Gallic family from Narbo on the Mediterranean coast. It was another family which came to power through treachery; Marcus Aurelius Carus, the founder of the extremely short-lived dynasty, had been his predecessor's praetorian prefect. He is particularly noted for his spectacular death: Carus is the only Emperor to have been struck by lightning. Gallia may mean several things: Gallia was the Latin name for Gaul. ... An alternative spelling for Narbonne, a city and commune of southwestern France, in the Aude département, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Carus on a posthumous coin. ...

Caran emperors

• Carus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Carus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Aurelius Carus), 282 – 283
  • M. Aurelius Carinus, 282 – 283 (as "Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Carinus P.F. Aug.")
• Numerianus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Numerianus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Aurelius Numerius Numerianus) 283 – 284
  • M. Aurelius Carinus, 283 – 284 (as "Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Carinus P.F. Aug.")
    • Note: Carinus had been co-Emperor with Carus from 282 to 283
• Carinus ("Imp. Caesar M. Aurelius Carinus P.F. Aug."; b. M. Aurelius Carinus), 283 – 285

Carus on a posthumous coin. ... Events Carus becomes Roman emperor A new city was constructed in Fuzhou slightly south of the original city Ye. ... Events December 17 - Pope Gaius succeeds Pope Eutychian December - Numerian was proclaimed Roman emperor by his soldiers. ... Marcus Aurelius Carinus, Roman emperor, 283 - July, 285, was the elder son of the emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed governor of the western portion of the empire. ... Events Carus becomes Roman emperor A new city was constructed in Fuzhou slightly south of the original city Ye. ... Events December 17 - Pope Gaius succeeds Pope Eutychian December - Numerian was proclaimed Roman emperor by his soldiers. ... Numerian, on a coin as caesar Marcus Aurelius Numerianus (d. ... Events December 17 - Pope Gaius succeeds Pope Eutychian December - Numerian was proclaimed Roman emperor by his soldiers. ... For other uses, see number 284. ... Marcus Aurelius Carinus, Roman emperor, 283 - July, 285, was the elder son of the emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed governor of the western portion of the empire. ... Events December 17 - Pope Gaius succeeds Pope Eutychian December - Numerian was proclaimed Roman emperor by his soldiers. ... For other uses, see number 284. ... Marcus Aurelius Carinus, Roman emperor, 283 - July, 285, was the elder son of the emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed governor of the western portion of the empire. ... Events December 17 - Pope Gaius succeeds Pope Eutychian December - Numerian was proclaimed Roman emperor by his soldiers. ... This article is about the year. ...

Dynastic relationships

Carus's wife (name unknown) bore him two sons (Numerianus and Carinus) and a daughter (Aurelia Paulina).

See also