The Crisis of the Third Century

Philip left his brother gaius in syria and granted all the authority a co emperor might expect. Gaius then enjoyed a five year run as the unquestioned ruler of the eastern empire, while his brother took over the west. Philip's short reign would prove to be a microcosm of the wider crisis period within which it was set. His years and power were defined by internal rebellion, an external invasion. But now we can turn our attention to one of those external menaces that would help make the crisis of the third century the truly existential emergency that it was. There is a lot of confusion out there about who exactly the goths were, when they appeared,