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After the murders of Balbinus and Pupienus in AD 238, the Praetorian Guards and the Senate acclaimed Gordian III, grandson of Gordian I, as emperor. He held on to power until AD 244 thanks to the support of a powerful Praetorian Prefect named Timesitheus. Gordian had some success against the Danubian tribes and Persians but he could not rely on the support of the army after Timesitheus died in AD 243. Gordian was killed in battle while fighting the Persians near the Euphrates in AD 244. His death was caused by Philip, the new Praetorian Prefect, who cut off troop supplies in the heat of battle. Philip, who was acclaimed emperor by the troops, declared that Gordian had died from an illness. The next forty years of the third century were dark times indeed for the Empire. There were no fewer than 14 official emperors and numerous usurpers. The period can be broken down into three phases: further decline and anarchy to the 270s; the breakaway Gallic Empire (AD 260 – AD 274); and a period of slow recovery from the mid-270s to AD 285. James R. Wadman B.A., M.A. [History and Archaeology] for TimeLine Originals
