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With Commodus' death in 192, the empire was once again plunged into
bloody civil war. The praetorian guard proved to be the real power
behind the choice in successors, setting up new emperors and then
killing them at the praetor's first displeasure. It would fall upon
Rome's generals to bring stability back to the empire. Three leaders
arose from opposite sides of the empire, Severus of the Danube region
reached Rome first in 193 AD. By 197 AD Severus had defeated them
both, leaving him to attempt to restore the empire to it's former
glory. However, his death in 211 brought forth another unworthy son
to reign over the empire. Severus' son was assassinated in
Mesopotamia in 217, and the empire was once again reduced to a cycle
of ascensions and assassinations. In 230 AD Alexander Severus, a
distant relative of the dead emperor, waged wars against the
Persians, who had replaced the Parthians as Rome's enemy in the east.
Although successful in many battles however, no territory was gained
and he was summarily executed in 235 AD.
The empire was on the verge of collapse between the infighting of
generals, Goths to the north, tribes along the Danube and the
ambitious Persians in the east. In 260 AD the Persians made large
gains into Roman territory, but were then pushed back by an
unexpected ally, Odenathus prince of Palmyra. The Persians were
pushed back and Odenathus was granted power in the east of the
empire, which he used effectively in his further attacks on the
withdrawing Persians. The empire was far from stability however, as a
new empire was formed from the western Roman territories by the
separatists Postumus and Tetricus. The "Gallic
Empire" consisted of Spain, Britain, and Gaul. Even
further crushing to the Romans was the loss of many eastern
territories in 269 AD to Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, whom had gained
control of the east with her husband Odenathus' death in 267 AD. Zenobia
of Palmyra conquered much of Asia Minor, as well as Syria and Egypt. |
