The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine

by Southern; Pat

• ISBN13: 9780415239448
• ISBN10: 0415239443
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2001-10-12
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

During the third century, the Roman Empire was in crisis. The growing threat from Germanic tribes and the Persian Empire, combined with internal difficulties, shook Rome to the core. In many respects the Empire should have collapsed, yet it didn't. Pat Southern's elegant narrative synthesizes a wealth of recent scholarship to bring the era to life. She shows that many of the third century leaders, particularly Gallienus, have been underrated. Far from being responsible for the travails faced by the Empire, their efforts towards consolidation enabled it to survive and helped to transform it into the sacrosanct, absolutist regime that emerged under Diocletian and Constantine. This is an exciting work on a too little known, but vitally important chapter, in Rome's history.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	vii
Introduction and acknowledgements	ix
Abbreviations	xi
The third century: the nature of the problem	1	(13)
Sources of evidence	7	(5)
Through a glass darkly: limitations of the evidence	12	(2)
Emperors and usurpers: 180-260	14	(67)
Empire without end	14	(1)
The development of frontiers	14	(3)
Prelude to the third century	17	(3)
The reign of Commodus	20	(3)
The rise of Severus	23	(5)
Severus Imperator	28	(4)
Elimination of rivals	32	(5)
The Severan dynasty	37	(13)
The successors of Severus	50	(14)
The end of the Severans: Maximinus Thrax becomes Emperor	64	(2)
The three Gordians	66	(5)
Philip the Arab	71	(3)
Decius	74	(1)
Trebonianus Gallus	75	(3)
Valerian and Gallienus	78	(3)
Schism and reunification: 260-84	81	(53)
Gallienus sole Emperor	81	(21)
The battle for the Empire: Gallienus to Aurelian	102	(8)
The Empire: restored: Aurelian	110	(16)
The successors of Aurelian: Probus to Diocletian	126	(8)
A world geared for war: 284-324	134	(48)
Diocletian: the Empire strikes back	134	(35)
Constantine: the Empire reshaped	169	(13)
Beyond the northern frontiers	182	(45)
Introduction: the image of the `barbarians'	182	(2)
Romans and natives	184	(19)
The third century and after	203	(24)
Beyond the eastern frontiers	227	(19)
The rise of the Sassanids: Ardashir defeats the Parthians	228	(4)
The Roman eastern frontier	232	(1)
The reign of Ardashir (224-41)	233	(1)
The reign of Shapur 1 (241-72)	234	(6)
The successors of Shapur: Hormizd I (272-3), Vahram I (273-6) and Vahram II (276-93)	240	(2)
Vahram III (293) and Narses (293-302)	242	(2)
Hormizd II (302-9) and Shapur II (309-79)	244	(2)
The Empire transformed	246	(38)
Emperors	246	(4)
Usurpation or regional self help?	250	(4)
The Senate and senatorial careers	254	(1)
The equestrian career	255	(2)
The Praetorian Prefects	257	(1)
The provinces	257	(3)
Cities and towns	260	(3)
The theory of depopulation, deserted lands and the decline of agricultural production	263	(2)
Economy and finance	265	(3)
The army and the frontiers	268	(11)
Religion	279	(5)
Notes	284	(88)
Bibliography	372	(22)
Index	394