*** Romann 3rd century AD








Roman Chronology: 3rd Century AD


Figure 1.--This is Emperor Elagabalus whom was installed as emperor by rebeling Legions (218). He was presented as Caracalla's son and rightful ruler. He ruled a little longer longer than Macrinus (218-22), actually rather surprising given his youth and the fact that he was devoted almost entirely to often deviant sexual gratification and consuming exotic foods. He also offended Romans by introducing new religious traditions superseding the Roman pantheon. He was one of Rome's most inept rulers which is saying a great deal. He seems unaware that his behavior was dangerous,. He was killed by the Praetorian Guard who rejected his ignoring Roman traditions and sensibilities (2022). Unlike Caligula, he was not twisted by youthful tragedies. Photo: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro.

Rome was in crisis during much of the 3rd century. The 3rd century begin with the relative stability of the Severian dynasty. After a period of civil war, Septimus Severus seized power as a military dictator (193 AD). He ruled until his death (211 AD). His elder son with Empress Julia Domna was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus., better known as Caracalla. He was proclaimed as co-ruler by his father (198). His brother, Geta, also became co-emperor (209). Their farther died (211). Caracalla ordered the the Praetorian Guard to murder his brother after which Caracalla reigned as sole ruler. He found administration to be mundane and boring. Ge assigned these duties to his mother who apparently tolerated the murder of her younger son. Caracalla is today seen as one of the most brutal and tyrannical of Roman emperors. He had to deal with domestic instability and invasions by Germanic tribes--neither very effectively. Caracslla was assassinated by a disaffected soldier in (217). Rome is confronted with chaos during much of the 3rd century. There were approximate 50 year period with 26 military rulers (235-284 AD). Rome was racked by civil war and foreign assaults and disasters. He is best known for his gigantic baths, the ruins iof which survive in Rome. Macrinus, a Praetorian Prefect, succeeded Caracalla as emperor 3 days later. Macrinus served as emperor for only a little more than a year. He reigning jointly with his young son Diadumenianus. Caracalla's aunt Julia Maesa resenting the loss of status spression of Caracalla's supporters organized a rebellion to have her 14-year-old grandson, Elagabalus, installed as emperor. She claimed that Elagabalus was Caracalla's son and rightful ruler. Macrinus was overthrown after the Battle of Antioch (218). Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor by the rebelling Roman legions. Macrinus fled the battlefield, but was interceoted and executed. The Senate has no choice. but to accept Elagabalus as emperor. He ruled a little longer longer than Macrinus (218-22), actually rather surprising given his youth and the fact that he was devoted almost entirely to often deviant sexual gratification and consuming exotic foods. He also offended Romans by introducing new religious traditions superseding the Roman pantheon. He was one of Rome's most inept rulers which is saying a great deal. He seems unaware that his behavior was dangerous. One would have thiughtv that huis mother nd grabd mother would have prepared and counseled him, but onece installed as emperor he apparently thought he could do as he wished. He was killed by the Praetorian Guard who were offended by his eratic behvior and were offended by his ignoring Roman traditions and sensibilities (222). Unlike Caligula whom as a child experuienced his family being murdered murdered around him, he was not twisted by youthful tragedies. The chaos that begins with Macrinus and Elagabalus only ends when Diocletian seized control (284 BC). Diocletian reorganizes the Empire and begins the final era of imperial stability. He turns away from Rome and rules from Nicomedia in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Diocletian adopted the title dominus (lord) which was the title of an Oriental potentate never before used by a Roman leader. His sought to separate the Empire's military and civilian administration. He divided the administration of the Empire into two halves. The Western half of the Empire was entrusted to a personal friend Maximian. Diocletian also adopted new agricultural laws and an entirely new tax system. Diocletian ends the chaos, but the focus of the empire is shifted east. The reorganization as well redistributes wealth to the East and thereby weakens the Western Empire. Historians classify the era beginning with Diocletian's rule to 610 AD as the late antiquity, separating the Roman from the Medieval era. A new intellectual tradition emerges in the 3rd century, perhaps in pat bcause of the crisis which enveloped the Empire. Plotinus becomes the inspiration for Neoplatonism, a philosophy attempting to synthesize the word of Plato, Aristotle, and Stoics. Some see the influence of Oriental mysticism in his principal work The Enneads. He greatly influence St. Augustine and through him the theology of the Medieval Church. Ironically the Church tht had been orececuted by the Emoir, would be the ot=uimry vesseld thriugh which Romn clsical culyre would be transmitted to modern imes, especilly Roman law. Alsinfluebced were the humanist thinkers of the Renaissance. Plotinus died in Rome (270 AD). The borders of the Empire were little changed, but the chaos for much of the century, seriously weakened the state. Christianity subject to varying persecution steadily grew.








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Created: 4:05 AM 5/27/2023
Last updated: 4:05 AM 5/27/2023