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".^[1]

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.^[2]

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.