ecomes emperor of Rome; he makes peace with Sapor.

249. The Roman legions revolt in several provinces; some proclaim
Jotapianus, and others Marinus, both of whom are killed by their own
men. Decius, who is sent to appease the mutineers, is compelled by them
to assume the purple and lead them into Italy. Battle of Verona. Philip
is defeated and slain, and his son murdered at Rome. Decius is emperor.

250. Decius orders the persecution of the Christians.

The Goths cross the Danube, enter the Roman dominions as far as Thrace,
and capture Philippopolis.

251. Victory of the Goths; Decius, at the head of the Romans, is
defeated and slain. Gallus ascends the throne.

253. Barbarians invade Moesia and Pannonia; they are defeated by
AEmilianus, who is hailed as emperor by his army; he marches against
Gallus, who, with his son, is assassinated by his soldiers. On the
approach of Valerian, at the head of the Gallic legions, AEmilianus is
slain, near Spoleto. Valerian becomes emperor.

254. Franks invade the northern provinces of Gaul.

An eruption of Mount AEtna.

Persecution of the Christians recommences.

256. The Roman Empire is assailed on all sides. The Franks pass through
Gaul and sack Tarraco in Spain; the Alemanni attack Italy; the
Sarmatians and Quadi force their way into Pannonia; Macedon and Greece
are ravaged by the Goths; Persians invade Syria and Mesopotamia.

Cyprian, one of the early fathers of the Church, assembles another
council at Carthage, which provokes angry disputes.

258. Valerian goes into the East against the Persians. The invaders of
Gaul are checked by Postumus. The Goths capture Trebizond.

260. Roman war with Persia; defeat and capture of Valerian by Sapor.
Outbreaks continue throughout the provinces. Gallienus ascends the
throne.

261. Manes originates the Manichaean heresy, which taught among other
things that there were two souls or spirits in man, one good and the
other evil; also that the soul at death went first to the moon and then
to the sun, and thence to God.

267. Various Gothic bands, called by some Scythians, ravage Greece and
Asia. One section is driven out of Asia by Odenathus; later he is
assassinated by his nephew, Maeonius. His widow, Zenobia, avenges his
death and fills with glory his vacant throne of Palmyra.

268. Murder of the emperor Gallienus; accession of Claudius II.

269. Claudius signally defeats the Goths at Naissus, Moesia.

Zenobia rules in Egypt