Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax (235-238 A.D.) The Severan Dynasty (founded by Septimius Severus) last
Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax (235-238 A.D.) The Severan Dynasty (founded by Septimius Severus) lasted some 35 years before soldiers murdered Severus Alexander in 235. In his place they proclaimed as Emperor a crude, towering Thracian soldier, Maximinus Thrax. A shepherd who had risen through the ranks of the military, Maximinus had never even been to Rome. With his rise to power the soldiers took over the Empire. The reign of Maximinus ushered in a half century of civil war, financial collapse, and barbarian invasion on all fronts. Maximinus lasted just 4 years as emperor and his successors did little better. In the 50 years following the death of Severus Alexander to the rise of Diocletian, there were some 20 emperors and numerous usurpers. The reign of these emperors averaged about two and a half years. This came to be known as the Crisis of the 3rd Century. -- source link