Knowra Maximinus Thrax Maximinus Thrax Maximinus Thrax was Roman emperor from 235 to 238. His accession by the army after Alexander Severus’s death is commonly seen as the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.
Alexander Severus : Alexander Severus was Roman emperor from 222 to 235, when soldiers killed him during a campaign on the Rhine. His death at the hands of troops opened the throne to Maximinus.
Roman emperors : Roman emperors were the individual rulers who held supreme political and military authority in the Roman Empire. Maximinus’s authority depended on commanding the army and claiming the imperial office.
Crisis of the Third Century : The Crisis of the Third Century was a period of Roman political instability, civil war, invasion, and economic strain, conventionally dated 235–284. Maximinus’s accession marks the crisis’s conventional beginning.
Battle of Carthage (238) : The Battle of Carthage in 238 was the clash in which forces loyal to Maximinus defeated the revolt of Gordian I and Gordian II. The victory destroyed the Gordians’ challenge but did not restore stable rule.
Roman army : The Roman army was the organized military force that defended and expanded the Roman state. Soldiers acclaimed Maximinus emperor, making military support the basis of his accession.
Roman taxation : Roman taxation comprised the taxes, assessments, and levies used to fund the Roman state. Heavy demands for revenue during Maximinus’s reign fueled opposition among landowners and provincials.
Year of the Six Emperors : The Year of the Six Emperors was the succession crisis of 238, when six men held or claimed Roman imperial power. Maximinus’s overthrow set off the rapid succession of rival rulers in 238.
Aquileia : Aquileia was a Roman city in northern Italy, near the head of the Adriatic Sea. Maximinus besieged Aquileia while attempting to force his way into Italy.
Severan dynasty : The Severan dynasty was a Roman imperial house that ruled from 193 to 235. Maximinus took power after the dynasty ended with Alexander Severus’s murder.
Legitimacy (political) : Political legitimacy is the recognized right of a person or institution to exercise authority. Maximinus’s military accession lacked the broad acceptance that could secure rule without force.
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