When political crises attacked ancient Rome, the result were cycles of failed successions, which resulted in years with 4, 5, and up to 6 emperors.
Neither the provisional governments that followed April 25, nor the unstable First Republic, much less current political confusion – Nothing compares to the year 238 AD in the Roman Empire.
This year, many heads rolled, without even having time to “warm up”, supplanting the equally tragic year for Roman politics of 68 AD, with 4 emperors, or 193 AD, with 5 emperors. In 238, however, there was nothing less than 6. What happened?
It all started in 68 AD, after Nero’s death, the iconic and cruel emperor who left no offspring, and was eventually replaced by Sulpicius, Sulpicius counts a. The new emperor, however, was not very popular among the Romans, and was considered asynight, repressive and unpopular. He appointed an heir, who ended up betraying him: he bribed the Praetorian guard and was responsible for the murder of Galba.
We talk about Marcus Salvius Otho, that did not live up to the expectations that the population placed on it. After the march of Vitélio On Rome, he was defeated on the battlefield and committed suicide 3 months after taking office.
Already Vitélio was not popular at all among the population. Ruled 8 months, until it was overthrown from power for Vespasian. It was the end of the first cycle of political crisis in ancient Rome.
The second cycle, called “The Year of the 5 Emperors”, began with the murder of Commodus and proclamation as its successor to Arnold HELVUS stubborn. Ended up being murdered after 3 months by the Praethians, who auctioned the throne – who gave the most the senator Didius Julian. But his gams lasted 66 days, and. quickly succumbed to an attack led by Severus proclaimed new emperor.
But it was in 238 AD that the Roman Empire watched the worst political crisis ever, facing the midst of Crisis of the 3rd century, Forever marked in history by civil wars, economic crisis, epidemics… a tragic conjuncture.
It all started with Thraxwhich rose to power despite its humble origins. It was nicknamed, after 3 years of governance, Tyran.
In the North Africa, then a rebellion emerged led by Marcus Anthony Gordian Sempronianus (Gordian), who never assumed power because he committed suicide after the murder of his son, who had co-imperator name.
Was then chosen as successor Mark Anthony Gordian Plusgrandson and nephew of the deceased fat. Small problem: The new emperor was only 13 years old, and against him was again Thrax, who wanted to go back to office at all costs. What happened next was a true civil war. With 4 rulers killed within one month, instability was increasingly increased.
Followed in power Pupienus out of Balbinustwo leaders of the revolt against Thrax. They suspected each other, feared a coup and became paranoid, which led to the end of his joint government, just 99 days after he began.
It was only on July 29 of this year that a final coup stressed by the Praethians ended the regime and appointed Gordiano Pio (Gordian III) as the only emperor.
It was the End of the political crisiswith a stability that lasted 2 years (Gordian III died later in combat against the Persians). It was the year of the 6 emperors, full of plots, intrigues, murders, and of course, as always was the park of the ancient Romans, complicated conspiracies and intelligent power games.
