Maximinus
alienated the Senate by raising taxes, and
when Africa revolted under Gordian I and his son, who were
soon defeated, the Senate elected Balbinus and Pupienus, and Gordian's
young grandson was made Caesar. Maximinus invaded Italy, only to be assassinated by his own troops; after a brief reign, Balbinus and Pupienus were killed by disaffected Praetorians. Gordian III
then ruled for six years
until he was overthrown by his
prefect Philip, whose reign featured the
Millennial Games and several provincial revolts. Philip sent Decius to suppress a revolt
in Moesia, where the legions acclaimed Decius emperor; Philip
then attacked Decius, lost and
died in battle. Two years later Decius fell in battle against the Goths. Trebonianus
Gallus succeeded, and the Goths were finally defeated
by his general Aemilian, who was then acclaimed emperor
by his legions. Gallus set out to confront
him, but was assassinated by his own soldiers. Valerian, who had come to help Gallus, was
then acclaimed by his legions and
a similar fate befell Aemilian. Valerian stabilized the army's
loyalties and the empire began to recover, but his reign was
troubled by frontier wars,
ending in the capture of Valerian and his entire army by the Persians. His son Gallienus, unable to prevent the disintegration of the empire despite many military successes,
was eventually overthrown by his officers. |
