Western Civilization

Transformation of the Roman

World: Crises in the Third

Century

Q FOCUSQUESTION: What political, military, economic,

and social problems did the Roman Empire face

during the third century?

At the end of the second century, a number of natural

catastrophes struck Rome. Floods of the Tiber, famine,

and plague brought back from the East by the army led

to a considerable loss of population and a shortage of

military manpower. To many Romans, these natural

disasters seemed to portend an ominous future for

Rome, and indeed, in the course of the third century,

the Roman Empire came near to collapse.

Political and Military Woes

After a series of civil wars, Septimius Severus (sep-

TIM-ee-uss se-VEER-uss) (193–211), who was born in

North Africa and spoke Latin with an accent, used his

legions to seize power. On his deathbed, Septimius

Severus advised his sons, “Live in harmony, make the

soldiers rich, and don’t give a damn for anything else.”

His advice set the tone for the new dynasty he estab-

lished. The Severan rulers (193–235) began to create a

military monarchy. The army was expanded, soldiers’

pay was increased, and military officers were appointed

to important government positions. A new stability

seemed at hand, but the increased power of the mili-

tary led new military leaders to aspire to become em-

peror, and the military monarchy of the Severan rulers

degenerated into military anarchy.

For the next fifty years (235–284), the empire was

mired in the chaos of continual civil war. Contenders

for the imperial throne found that bribing soldiers was

an effective way to become emperor. In these five de-

cades, there were twenty-two emperors, only two of

whom did not meet a violent end. At the same time,

the empire was beset by a series of invasions, no doubt

encouraged by the internal turmoil. In the East, the

Sassanid Persians made inroads into Roman territory.

A fitting symbol of Rome’s crisis was the capture of the

Roman emperor, Valerian (253–260), by the Persians

Septimius Severus and His Family.

This portrait, which was painted on

wood about 200C.E. and found in

Egypt, is the only existing painted

likeness of a Roman emperor. The

emperor is portrayed with gray hair

and beard in memory of Marcus

Aurelius. To legitimize his authority,

Septimius Severus had himself adopted

into the Antonine dynasty, calling

himself the son of Marcus Aurelius. The

emperor stands next to his wife with

their two sons in front of them. The

face of his son Geta has been blotted

out, no doubt by order of the other

son standing next to him, Caracalla. On

succeeding to the throne, Caracalla had

his brother killed.(bpk, Berlin /Antikensammlung,

SMB/Johannes Laurentius/Art Resource, NY)

Transformation of the Roman World: Crises in the Third Century 137

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