The "'''Crisis of the Third Century'''" is a commonly applied name for the crumbling and near collapse of the [[Roman Empire]] between [[235]] and [[275]]. During this period, Rome was ruled by more than 35 individuals, most of them prominent generals who assumed Imperial power over all or part of the empire, only to lose it by defeat in battle, murder, or death. After 35 years of this, the Empire was on the verge of death, and only the military skill of [[Aurelian]], one of Rome's greatest emperors, restored the empire to its natural boundaries.
The troubles began in [[235]], when the emperor [[Alexander Severus]] was murdered by soldiers at the age of 27 after [[Roman legion]]s were defeated in a campaign against [[Persia]]. As [[general]] after general squabbled over control of the empire, the frontiers were neglected and subjected to frequent raids by [[Carpians]], [[Goths]], [[Vandals]] and [[Alamanni]], and outright attacks from [[Persia]]. Finally, by [[258]], the attacks were coming from within. In that year, the vast [[Roman province]]s of [[Gaul]], [[Britain]] and [[Hispania]] all broke off to form the so-called [[Gallic Empire]], and two years later, the eastern provinces of [[Syria]], [[Palestine]] and [[Egypt]] became independent as the [[Palmyrene Empire]], with [[Parthian]] backing.
An invasion by a vast [[host]] of Goths was beaten back at the [[Battle of Naissus]] in [[268]]. This victory was significant as the turning point of the crisis. Victories by the emperor [[Claudius II|Claudius II Gothicus]] over the next two years drove back the [[Alamanni]] and recovered Hispania from the Gallic Empire. When Claudius died in [[270]] of the [[Bubonic plague|plague]], Aurelian, who had commanded the cavalry at [[Naissus]], succeeded him as emperor and continued the restoration of the empire.
Aurelian ended the crisis during his reign ([[270]]-[[275]]) by hammering, in succession, the [[Vandals]], [[Visigoths]], Palmyrenes (see Queen [[Zenobia]]), Persians, and then the remainder of the Gallic Empire. By late [[274]], the Roman Empire was reunited and the frontier troops back in place. More than a century would pass before Rome again lost the upper hand on its enemies.
See these articles for more information on the leading figures or events of this time period:
*[[Aurelian]]
*[[Claudius II]]
*[[Gallienus]]
*[[Postumus]]
*[[Roman Emperor (Crisis of the Third Century)]]
*[[Battle of Naissus]]
*[[Battle of Lake Benacus]]
*[[Zenobia]]
== References ==
* Alaric Watson, ''Aurelian and the Third Century'' (Taylor & Francis, 2004) ISBN 0415301874
* John F. White, ''Restorer of the World: The Roman Emperor Aurelian'' (Spellmount, 2004) ISBN 1862272506
[[Category:Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Crisis of the Third Century|*]]
[[nl:Romeinse crisis van de 3e eeuw]]
[[de:Soldatenkaiser]]
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