The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248 260: When the Gods Abandoned Rome

This book provides a narrative history of a dozen years of turmoil in Rome, including civil wars, invasions, economic crisis, and a pandemic. It was a period of moral and spiritual crisis, leading to the triumph of Christianity. The discovery of fragments of the lost Scythica of Dexippus sheds new light on the Gothic Wars. The book covers the reigns of emperors Gallus, Aemilian, and Valerian and presents new ideas about mysterious characters of the age. It is pivotal for understanding the transition between Classical civilisation and Late Antiquity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

This book is a comprehensive narrative history that spans a dozen tumultuous years, beginning with Rome's millennium celebrations in 248 CE and concluding with the capture of the emperor Valerian by the Persians in 260. It was a period of almost relentless disaster for Rome, marked by a series of civil wars, devastating invasions by Goths and Persians, economic crises, and a devastating pandemic known as the plague of Cyprian. The Christians faced sustained persecution during this time.

A central theme of the book is that this period marked a profound moral and spiritual crisis, leading to the eventual triumph of Christianity. The recent discovery of extensive fragments of the lost Scythica of Dexippus sheds new light on the Gothic Wars of the era, providing valuable insights into the events surrounding the pivotal Battle of Abritus, where the army of the emperor Decius was annihilated by the Goths led by Cniva.

The author has meticulously researched and analyzed this new evidence, coupled with in-depth field investigations, to develop a revised account of the events surrounding the Battle of Abritus. The reigns of the emperors Gallus, Aemilian, and Valerian are treated in detail, and the book presents fresh ideas regarding enigmatic figures of the age, such as Silbannacus and Sponsian.

This period holds immense significance in understanding the transition between Classical civilization and the period known as Late Antiquity. It provides a valuable window into the complex and turbulent times that shaped the ancient world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399090971