Recovery Of The Empire
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The period between the reigns of Claudius Gothicus and Carus represents the turning point of the Third-Century Crisis, often characterized as the era of the "Restoration of the World." After decades of civil war and barbarian invasions, this phase saw the emergence of the Illyrian Emperors, a series of soldier-monarchs who prioritized military discipline and territorial integrity over senatorial tradition. The Illyrian Surge -The Re-unification of the Empire: He dismantled the breakaway Palmyrene Empire in the East and the Gallic Empire in the West. -Defensive Reforms: Recognizing the vulnerability of the capital, he commissioned the Aurelian Walls in Rome. -Religious and Economic Shifts: He promoted the cult of Sol Invictus to provide a unifying state ideology and attempted to stabilize the debased Roman currency. Consolidation and Transition The era concluded with Carus, whose brief but aggressive campaign against the Sassanid Persians signaled that Rome had shifted from a state of survival back to one of expansion. This fourteen-year span replaced the chaos of the "barracks emperors" with a blueprint for centralized, authoritarian reform that would eventually culminate in the Tetrarchy of Diocletian. |
Claudius Gothicus
| MARCVS AVRELIVS CLAVDIVS was born in Moesia Superior about 215. He was commanding the Danubian region when he was called to Milan to help Gallienus subdue the usurper Aureolus. Gallienus was murdered at the siege and Claudius was chosen as the new Augustus in March, 268. In his first year he killed Aureolus, repelled an invasion of the Alamanni, and recovered Spain from the Gallic Empire. His second year he completed the destruction of the Goths near Naissus and moved to Sirmium to counter other barbarian threats. In the summer of 270 he died there of the plague and was deified |
Quintillus
| MARCVS AVRELIVS CLAVDIVS QUINTILLVS, the younger brother of Claudius II, was probably born in Moesia Superior. He was serving as commander at Aquileia when word came in the spring of 270 that Claudius had died. Quintillus' legions declared him Augustus, and the Senate ratified their choice. However, instead of moving to consolidate his position he stayed in Aquileia. Meanwhile the Danubian legions hailed Aurelian as Augustus, and when word reached Aquileia of the action of that mighty army, all support for Quintillus evaporated, and he committed suicide a few days later, after reigning 77 days. |
Aurelian
| LVCIVS DOMITIVS AVRELIANVS was born about 215. The Danubian legions supported Aurelian for Augustus when Claudius II died, and overthrew Quintillus, Claudius' brother in the late summer of 270. Aurelian stabilized the frontiers and then set about regaining the break-away Palmyrene and Gallic Empires. By mid-272 the Palmyrenes were conquered, and in late 273 the Gallic Empire was subdued. Aurelian reformed the coinage, improved the food supply, and instituted the worship of the Sun. He was murdered in Thrace in mid-275 by a plot conceived by his secretary to avoid punishment for dishonesty. |
Tacitus
| MARCVS CLAVDIVS TACITVS was born between 200 and 210. After Aurelian's murder in mid-275, the Army and the Senate both refused to name an Emperor, the Army out of contrition for its murder of Aurelian and the Senate out of fear of the Army. Severina may have continued to rule during this "Interregnum". Finally the barbarian incursions forced a decision and in the late fall of 275 the Senate chose Tacitus, a Senator. He moved east to deal with Goths who were ravaging Asia Minor. After some small successes he died in mid-276; it's uncertain whether he died naturally or at the hands of his men. |
Florian
| MARCVS ANNIVS FLORIANVS was the half-brother of Tacitus by the same mother. He was appointed Praetorian Praefect by Tacitus in 275 and accompanied him to Asia Minor to deal with Gothic raids. Tacitus and Florian scored successes against the Goths, but Tacitus died in June, 276. Florian then declared himself Augustus. The west recognized his elevation but the east refused to and after a few weeks they hailed their commander, Probus, as Augustus. The armies met near Tarsus, but no decisive battle ensued. Finally after a few weeks, Florian's men avoided a war by murdering him |
Probus
| MARCVS AVRELIVS PROBVS was born at Sirmium in 232. When Florian was proclaimed Emperor in 276 upon the death of Tacitus, Probus commanded the Roman east and refused to recognize him. Their armies met at Tarsus, and after a standoff, Florian was killed by his men in August, 276. Probus then rescued Gaul from barbarian invasions, and later set about clearing the east of barbarians and bandits. By 282 the Empire was at peace and Probus turned the army to civil construction. The discontented soldiers of Carus in Raetia rebelled, and Probus was slain by his own men at Sirmium in September, 282. |
Carus
| MARCVS AVRELIVS CARVS was probably born at Narbo in 229. He became Praetorian Praefect under Probus in 276, and when Probus was murdered in August, 282 he became Augustus. He was a very capable but imperious ruler. He elevated his sons Carinus and Numerian to Caesars and quickly settled disturbances in Gaul and Illyricum. Leaving Carinus at Rome, in early 283 he and Numerian set out on a Sassanian campaign, which was extremely successful and during which he raised his sons to Augusti. In August, 283 he died of a mysterious cause (murdered, struck by lightning, or illness) near Ctesiphon. |
