---
title: The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders,  Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity
author: Simeon Netchev
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17154/the-roman-empire-and-the-crisis-of-the-third-centu/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
updated: 2025-12-06
---

# The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders,  Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity

_Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_

## Image File

[![The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders,  Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17154.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17154.png)

## Image Caption

The [Crisis of the Third Century](https://www.worldhistory.org/Crisis_of_the_Third_Century/) (235–284 CE) began with the assassination of Emperor [Severus Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_Severus/) (reign 222–235 CE) in 235 CE, triggering the collapse of centralized imperial authority. Over the next five decades, [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) power fractured as rival claimants, mostly proclaimed by frontier legions, fought for the throne in rapid succession. This era saw extreme political instability, with emperors rising and falling at the pace of battlefield loyalty rather than legal succession. The rapid militarization of power undermined [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/)’s administrative coherence and exposed deep structural weaknesses across the [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/)’s frontiers, [economy](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/economy/), and civil institutions.

Between 235 and 284 CE, more than fifty emperors and usurpers were proclaimed, many never ruling from Rome at all. Economic breakdown accelerated through currency debasement and inflation, while repeated invasions by Germanic groups and sustained pressure from the [Sassanian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sasanian_Empire/) [Persian Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Persian_Empire/) destabilized the eastern frontier. Roman unity fractured further with the emergence of the Gallic Empire (c. 260–272 CE) in the west and the Palmyrene Empire (c. 250–273 CE) in the east. Simultaneously, the [Plague](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/plague/) of Cyprian (c. 249–262 CE) severely reduced population, manpower, and agricultural output. The crisis began to reverse under [Aurelian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aurelian/) (reign 270–275 CE), who restored territorial unity, and was decisively resolved through the systemic reforms of [Diocletian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Diocletian/) (reign 284–305 CE), whose restructuring of imperial administration, the army, and taxation laid the groundwork for Late Roman stability.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Netchev, S. (2023, March 07). The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders, Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17154/the-roman-empire-and-the-crisis-of-the-third-centu/>
### Chicago
Netchev, Simeon. "The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders, Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 07, 2023. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17154/the-roman-empire-and-the-crisis-of-the-third-centu/>.
### MLA
Netchev, Simeon. "The Roman Empire and the Crisis of the Third Century, c. 270 CE: Pretenders, Breakaways, Plague, and the Fight for Unity." *World History Encyclopedia*, 07 Mar 2023, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17154/the-roman-empire-and-the-crisis-of-the-third-centu/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 07 March 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.