Crisis of the third century

One calls Crise of the third century the period on the basis of 235 (death of Sévère Alexandre, beginning of the reign of Maximin) with 285 (death of Carin, beginning of the reign of Dioclétien).

During this half century, the Roman Empire is plunged in one of the most difficult phases of its history. The sovereigns do not manage to sit their authority, of many usurpers Empereurs proclaim themselves, and the Empire is in prey with the cruel invasions.

Origins of the crisis

The historians still wonder about the reasons of the deep crisis which the empire rmain passes through at the third century. certain causes external with the Empire can explain it. In the East, the Parthian Empire déliquescent leaves the place to the Empire Sassanide in the second quarter of the 3rd century. this powerful empire, structured well and aggressive makes weigh a constant pressure on the provinces of Asia. In the North-East of Europe, the German Eastern ones which lives in the areas of the Baltic start a slow migration towards the South and European South-east. This faisaint, they drive out the other tribes which are on the territories that they travervent. There those seek to find refuge in the Roman Empire while hoping to find new grounds and a rich person spoils. Their incursions put at lour the weakness Roman defensive strategy. Indeed, the legions are massed at the borders. Once crossed the files , the barbarians can devastate without almost any obstacle the provinces.

The internal difficulties are due to the increasingly large distance of the soldiers ready to impose heavy sacrifices to the civilians to protect the files and having class which accepts with difficulty the increase in its fiscal charges. On the political plan, that results in the rise of the class equestrian, titular of the large prefectures and increasingly present in the provinces as governor at the place of the senatorial class. Moreover from 250, the Roman Empire is touched by an epidemic of plague which involves a depopulation and an economic crisis from which suffer mainly the Occident already devastated stalemate the Germanic incursions.

Imperial instability

The military Anarchy

The period ranging between 235 and 268 is rather badly known. Sixteen emperors followed one another, made and demolished by the fate of the weapons. Thus Maximin Ier Thrace is the first private to become emperor by the will alone of its soldiers. He deploys a great energy to make safe the border vis-a-vis the Daces and with the Sarmates. He persecutes the chiefs of the Christian Church in Rome. It requires senatorial class and provinces of heavy taxes to face the military expenditure. He multiplies the fines and the confiscations. This tax pressure causes the revolt of the great landowners of Africa. They arm their colonists and their slaves to kill a pitiless procurator. In 238, they carry to the capacity Gordien Ier 80 years old in partnership with his/her son Gordien II recognized quickly by the Roman senate. The two Gordian ones are quickly beaten. Maximin is killed in front of Aquilée just as Pupien and Balbin, chosen by the senate like new Majestic. At the end of 238, Gordien III (238-244) the smallone of Gordien Ier becomes emperor at the 13 years age. He perishes assassinated at the instigation of the prefect of the court whereas he conducted campaign against Sassanides. This last becomes emperor under the name of Philippe the Arab (244-249) because he of indigenous origin. It celebrates the millenium of the foundation of Rome with ostentation. It must eliminate several competitors. It crystallized with energetic the Messius Quintus Decius the care to push back Goths which devastates Balkans. After its victory, the soldiers of this last proclaim it emperor with his defending body. It is in it combatant that Philippe the Arab is killed. Dèce (249-251), a illyrien of Roman origin seeks to control in agreement with the senate, fact rare in this century of emperor-soldiers. It is the first emperor killed by barbarians, at the time of the heavy defeat of Abrittus vis-a-vis the Goths into 251. Trébonien Galle (251-253), Émilien (253) follow one another at brought closer intervals. This last reigns only eighty eight days.

Valérien (253-260) 70 years old, reigns associated with his/her his/her son Gallien (253-268). This one is the last aristocrat to be arrived at the Empire. The two men come indeed from a Roman senatorial family. They share the defense of the empire: with Gallien Occident, Valérien the East. They must face the incursiens Alamans and Francs in Gaulle and with the offensive of the sovereign sassanide Sapor in Syria. In 260, Valérien is even made prisoner by Persians and finishes its days like slave in Iran. Gallien remained only emperor manages to stop an invasion of Alamans by beating them in Italy of North. It gives up the Dacie conquered by Trajan which became too much diffcile to be defended and fixes the border of the Empire on the the Danube. But it must face many usurpations, that of Macrien and Quiétus in the East, Kingly in Pannonia and Postume as a Gaulle who proclaims the Empire of Gaules. Odénat seizes many Eastern provinces and declared the independence of the kingdom of Palmyre. It is the time the Thirty tyrants. Gallien does not control any more that Illyrie and ends up succumbing to the plot of one of the many usuparteurs.

The Emperors illyriens

The emperors who reign from 268 to 284 are almost all of origin illyrienne. They all are almost of the soldiers to whom armed it gave a great rigor and the faith in the eternity of the Roman Empire. They testify to the militarization of the Empire.

Claude II the Gothic (268-270) manages to overcome the Alamans and the Goths where are nickname. On the other hand it lets the sovereigns of Palmyre take controls it of all Roman East. He dies of the plague with Sirmium. Quintillus (270) the brother of L “late emperor reigns only three months. Aurélien (270-275) is carried to the capacity by its troops with Sirmium. after having crushed in Rome a revolt of the workmen of the workshops of monetary striking, he undertakes to build a vast rampart to protect the city, the Mur of Aurélien. He pavient to overcome the barbarians who threaten Italy puts an end to the kingdom Palmyre into 273 and with the Empire of Gaules in 274. He perishes assassinated by his entourage into 275. Marcus Claudius Tacite (275-276) 75 years old perishes in mysterious circumstances whereas it left to fight the Goths. Probus (276-282) carried with the capacity by its soldiers replaces transitory the Florien (276). It eliminates the last cruel threats but perishes assassinated by these same which carried it to the capacity. Carus (282-283) dies mysteriously by making countryside against Persians. Its sons, Carin (Occident) (283-285) and Numérien (the East) (283-284) are victims of the intrigues of their entourage.

Transformations after 260

Gallien starts a major change of the military strategy. It distributes in-depth the means of defense while placing in the principal road junctions of the Illyrie of the detachments of the frontier legions. It constitutes an important cavalry with an autonomous command. It excludes the senators from military employment and replace them by knights. It inserts in the army of the overcome barbarians amorçant the barbarisation of the army consequently. The army absorbs a part increasingly larger financial resources of the state. A special tax, the military annone is taken for its maintenance.

The functions of general-in-chief and victorious war leader that the emperor holds traditionally are reinforced during these ceaseless periods of war. Beside the usual qualifiers like Felix , one associates more and more the term invictus . Indeed, a victorious emperor can hope for the fidelity of his subjects and his troops. In the event of military defeat, competitors appear among the other generals. The emperors however aissaient to find a legitimacy by tranformant the imperial Culte. Aurélien is regarded as a god on ground. On his currencies, one can find the inscription deus and dominus natus . The emperor is thus divinisé of alive sound.

The difficulties of 3rd century give rise to think of the Romans whom they were given up by the gods. They thus think that to restore the traditional worships is essential to obtain new favor of the gods. within this framework, Christianity then in full expansion seems the person in charge of the rupture with the divinities. The Christians are all the more suspect as they refuse the imperial worship. Dèce, in 250, forces all the citizens to make sacrifices with the gods for the safety of the emperor. Many Christians obey. Those which refuse are persecuted until the death of Dèce into 251. Valérien renews the obligation of sacrifices involving of persecutions with regard to many Christians. Its policy is also certainly due to the desire to find new resources confiscating the goods of Christians carried out. In 260, his/her son Gallien publishes an edict of tolerance maintained by his successors during 40 years.

See too

References

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