The Crisis of the Third Century

The Crisis of the Third Century was a very unstable time for the Roman Empire from 235 to 284 CE. Emperors rose and fell quickly, armies fought over power, enemies attacked the borders, and trade became less secure. For a while, it looked like the empire might split apart for good.

Trouble on Many Fronts

Rome faced attacks from Germanic groups in Europe and the Sasanian Empire in the east. At the same time, Roman soldiers often declared their own commanders emperor. Some emperors ruled only a short time before being defeated or killed. This made it hard for the empire to stay organized.

Money and Order Fell Apart

The empire also struggled with money. Coins lost value, trade was disrupted, and taxes became harder to collect. Some regions broke away for a while, including the Gallic Empire in the west and the Palmyrene Empire in the east. These were signs that central Roman power was weakening.

Recovery, Not the End

Even though the crisis was severe, Rome did not disappear. Later emperors such as Aurelian and Diocletian restored control over much of the empire and reorganized the government and army. The crisis changed Rome deeply, though, and it showed how vulnerable even a giant empire could be.

Fun Facts

• More than 20 emperors ruled during this chaotic period.
• Some Roman regions briefly became separate states.
• The crisis helped lead to major changes in how the empire was governed.

Did You Know?

The Crisis of the Third Century was not the fall of Rome, but it was one of the biggest warnings that the empire was in serious trouble.