- The Soldiers Emperors, also known as the Barracks Emperors, ruled during a period of Roman civil wars called the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 CE).
- Between 235-284 CE, there were 33 Emperors in 50 years, nearly all the result of a succession of military coups. The arrival of Diocletian in 284 CE marked the end of the Crisis.
The Reason for the Crisis
- The Commanders of the Legions were regularly proclaimed Emperor by their soldiers. As one part of the Empire declared its Commander Emperor, another would do the same shortly after. Each contender would take his army to fight the previous incumbent.
- The Crisis of the Third Century forms part of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Role of the Praetorian Guard
- Also during this period, the Praetorian Guard openly assassinated the old Emperors and nominated new Emperors.
Synopsis of the Crisis
- This was a period of continuous civil war, and is also known as ‘The Military Anarchy’ or ‘The Imperial Crisis’.
- Initially, the main threat of invasion came from Persia, but after the disastrous Battle of Edessa in 260 CE, where the Romans lost all their legions and the Roman Emperor Valerian was captured, it was the turn of the Germanic Tribes.
- The Germanic Invasions intensified as the German tribes saw their opportunity to plunder.
- A cycle developed where, because each new Emperor was forced to rally against a Germanic invasion, he was prevented from eliminating his rival. When he did successfully eliminate a rival, he was never able to consolidate his power, due to a fresh Germanic Invasion.
- At first, the Persians took advantage of the civil wars and represented the biggest threat, but later it was the Germanic Tribes continually crossing the Rhine and the Danube that destabilised the Roman Empire.
- Between 258-260 CE, the Empire disintegrated into three competing Empires:
- Palmyrene Empire
- First, in 258 CE, the Palmyrene Empire broke away taking Egypt and Syria and Arabia.
- Gallic Empire
- Next, two years later in 260 CE, Postumus declared Gallic Empire which removed Spain, the Gauls, Germany and Britannia from Rome. He created a rival Senate, civil service structure and minted coins independently.
- Roman Empire
- This left Rome with the Danube Provinces, North Africa, Greece and Turkey.
- War with the Persian Empire
- The biggest disaster occurred in 260 CE at the Battle of Edessa, where the Emperor Valerian and his entire Roman Army numbering almost 70,000 men, were captured by the Persians.
- Palmyrene Empire
- Finally, Diocletian (284-305 CE) reunited the Empire and ended the Crisis.
The Year of the Six Emperors (238 CE)
- The Crisis started on the 18th or 19th March 235 CE, with the assassination of Severus Alexander by his own soldiers.
- During 238 CE, six men had been proclaimed Emperor within twelve months, known as the Year of the Six Emperors.
- Maximinus Thrax (235-38 CE)
- Gordian I (238 CE)
- Gordian II (his son) (238 CE)
- Balbinus (238 CE and)
- Pupienus (238 CE)
- Gordian III (Grandson) (238-44 CE)
The Civil Wars continue
- Philip the Arab (244-49 CE)
- Decius (249-51 CE) with his son Herennius Etruscus (251 CE) and other son Hostilian (251 CE)
- Trebonianus Gallus (251-253 CE) and Hostilian (251 CE)
- Aemilianus (253 CE)
Valerian loses the War with Parthia (260 CE)
- Valerian (253-260 CE) is captured along with his army of 70,000 men by the Persian King Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa (260 CE).
- Gallienus (253-268 CE) Valerian’s son, remained in Rome, but then lost Gaul.
The Civil Wars continue (260-274 CE)
- Claudius II Gothicus (268-70 CE) became Emperor when Gallienus was assassinated.
- Quintillus (270 CE) brother of Claudius II is defeated by Aurelian after only 6 months as Emperor.
The Gallic Empire (260-74 CE)
- Postumus (260-69 CE)
- Laelianus (268 CE)
- Marcus Aurelius Marius (268-70 CE)
- Victorinus (268-70 CE)
- Domitianus II (271 CE)
- Tetricus I and Tetricus II (271-74 CE)
The Palmyrene Empire (c. 250-72 CE)
- Odaenathus (250-67 CE)
- Vaballathus (267-72 CE) (Child King)
- Zenobia (269-272 CE) (His Mother acted as Regent)
Dacia
- Sponsian I (dates unknown but somewhere between 60-71 CE)
Aurelian reconquers the Gallic and Palmyrene Empires (272-4 CE)
- Then, in 272 CE, Aurelian (270-275 CE) reconquered the Palmyrene Empire, before turning west, to reconquer the Gallic Empire in 274 CE.
- He layed down the format for the later reunification, and secured the Agri Decumantes against German Invasion for another twenty years.
The Civil Wars continue (275-284 CE)
- Marcus Claudius Tacitus (275-76 CE)
- Florianus (276 CE)
- Probus (276-82 CE)
- Carus (282-83 CE)
- Carinus (283-84 CE)
- Numerian (283-84 CE)
- Diocletian (284-305 CE)
The Britannic Empire (286-97 CE)
Diocletian (284-305 CE), the Tetrarchy and The End of the Crisis
- The arrival of Diocletian in 284 CE marks the end of the Crisis of the Third Century. Diocletian imposed a new political system known as the Tetrarchy.
- He lost Britannia again for 11 years, due to the Carausian Revolt of 286-297 CE.
The Outcome
- Diocletian reunited the Empire and imposed the Tetrarchy. This changed the Political and Military structure of the Provinces which made it too difficult for Provincial Governors to rebel.
- The system was known as the Tetrarchy which was marked by the Diocletianic Persecution against Christianity.
- He also abolished the Praetorian Guard.