Crisis of the Third Century

The Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 AD) was a period in which the Roman Empire almost ended because of invasions, civil war, plague, and economic collapse. The crisis is sometimes called the "Military Anarchy" or "Imperial Crisis".

The crisis began with the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus at the hands of his own troops in 235 AD. That started a 50-year period in which 20 to25 rivals struggled for the throne. Most were important generals of the Roman army who took control over all or part of the empire.

By 258–260, the empirehad split into three competing states. The Gallic Empire included the western Roman provinces of Gaul, Britannia and Hispania. The Palmyrene Empire had the eastern provinces of Syria Palaestina and Aegyptus. Both became independent of the Roman Empire proper, which stood between them in Italy. The crisis ended with the ascension of Diocletian in 284.

The crisis resulted in many changes to the empire's institutions, society, economy, and eventually religion. It was a transition period between classical antiquity and late antiquity.

Crisis Of The Third Century Media

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  Gothic raids in the 3rd century

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  Barbarian invasions against the Roman Empire in the 3rd century

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  Emperor Diocletian. With his rise to power in 284, the Crisis of the Third Century ended and gave rise to the Tetrarchy

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  Ritratto di Massimino il Trace ai Musei Capitolini, particolare della testa

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  Maximinus AV Aureus, AD 235-238, Rome mint. 5.71 gr. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe in right hand and cornucopiae in left. RIC IV-II, 13 (this coin); Calico 3161; Jameson 223 (this coin); Sear 8303.

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  MaximusNyCarlsbergGlyptotekIN(cropped)

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  Gaius Iulius Verus Maximus denarius 236 (obverse)

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  Gordian1cng80000719 (obverse)

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  Sestertius Gordian II-RIC 0008 (obverse)

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  Bust of Pupienus - Palazzo Nuovo - Musei Capitolini - Rome 2016 (2) (cropped)