Year of the Six Emperors

The Year of the Six Emperors was a period of civil war in 238 CE which saw six contenders vie to become the Roman Emperor.

The Emperor Severus Alexander was assassinated in Mainz during a Mutiny by the Legion. Maximinus Thrax was proclaimed Emperor by this Legion instead, but when he raised the Taxes to fight a three year Campaign against the German Tribes, Africa revolted and proclaimed their Governor and his son as Emperors.
When they were assassinated by the African Legion. the Senate elected two Senators as co-Emperors, but they were assassinated by the Praetorian Guard. Meanwhile, Maximinus invaded Italy, but was assassinated by his own soldiers at Aquileia. Finally, the Senate voted Gordian III as Emperor, who remained in power for 6 years.

Maximinus Thrax was the first Emperor during the Year of the Six Emperors:
He was the Commander of the Legio IV Italica and the Legio XXII Primigenia.
The soldiers assassinated Severus Alexander and his mother in a mutiny at Mainz, in Germany.
The Legions then proclaimed Maximinus Emperor and the Praetorian Guard and the Roman Senate reluctantly ratified the decision.
Maximinus I was considered to be a semi-illiterate barbarian who hated the nobility and vice versa.
His promotion to Emperor marks the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, a period of 50 years of civil wars between Roman Armies.
Between 235-238 CE Maximinus embarked on a successful three year war against the Germanic Tribes. However, to pay for this war taxation had to be increased, triggering a Revolt in Africa.

In 238 CE, the Province of Africa rebelled against the Tax Collectors, and the Governor Gordian I and his son [[Gordian II] were proclaimed co-Emperors.
The Roman Senate immediately ratified them as Roman Emperors, and Maximinus I was forced to march on Rome from {{Pannonia]].
The Legio III Augusta overthrew and killed the Gordians, leaving the Roman Senate vulnerable to Maximinus.

The Senate then elected two Patricians, Pupienus and Balbinus as co-Emperors, whilst another faction supported Gordian III, Gordian’s grandson.
Maximinus Thrax, who by now had spent three years campaigning against the Germanic Tribes, was obliged to march on Rome.
Whilst occupying Aquileia, Maximinus was murdered by his own soldiers. However, Pupienus and Balbinus who were very unpopular with the mobs in Rome, were eventually assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

The Senate then elected Gordian III, Gordian’s grandson to become Roman Emperor.

Gordian III ruled for the next six years, eventually taking the Legions east to fight a war with the Sassanid Empire, where he died.