Beautiful Egypt 26 – The Crisis of the Empire – October, 20, 2013

   Let’s resume our talk about the Roman rule when Egypt was a Roman state. We tackled Opellius Macrinus Caesar, who became the first Roman emperor to not hail from the senatorial class, yet he did not stay for long in power as his soldiers revolted against him and murdered him, and then August Bassianus Heliogabalus succeeded him as Caesar of Rome. He was extremely unjust, so the people asked for allowing Alexander Severus, the son of Caracalla Caesar’s wife, to be a participant in power. He accepted reluctantly, and attempted to kill him many times, yet his attempts were uncovered. After Bassianus was killed by the people, Alexander Severus Caesar became his succeeding Caesar.

Alexander Severus Caesar (222 – 235 AD)

   After the death of Bassianus, the Roman Senate members announced Alexander Severus a Caesar, as they observed his fairness and wisdom during his co ruling with Bassianus. “Historians recount that he was of a good conduct and good policy, was a good manager, and successful in all his sayings and acts. His mother was a Christian, he used to ask her counsel on everything regarding his work and deeds”. After assuming the power of Rome, he removed the sun idol – for which Bassianus had established a great temple in Rome and he had made it to be the greatest Roman god – as well as all the intruder idols out of Rome, he granted the Romans either to adhere to their old religion or to follow Christianity, he was opposed by the priests of heathens.

   Alexander Severus Caesar was interested in issuing moral laws, he set an order to the country’s economics and politics on the best level. He drew people of knowledge and wisdom close to him, spent his times in reading literary books or in doing military exercises. He was eloquent, preaching people with speeches and articles, restoring the grandeur of the Roman Empire to its top glory. He used to consult the Roman Senate in all the ruling affairs to achieve the interest of his people; whom he had alleviated the taxes imposed upon.

   The Caesar believed in developing talents; he allocated prized to the makers in order to motivate them on being excellent in their industries. He was wakeful, active and vigilant about the power affairs, especially the military; he cared about giving his soldiers food, outfits and money in the due time, he used to visit the sick soldiers in their tents. Among his words: “A soldier shall pursue perfect obedience as much as he can. He also has the right to be well dressed, well armored, foot covered, well fed in the best form by the state. He also shall have some money in his pocket to satisfy his needs”. Just as he gave his soldiers their due credit, he used to punish them severely when they stumble. Thus, the flock found a good shepherd, followed his suit in morals and justice.

   While the Caesar was preoccupied with the country and people affairs, concerning about trade, industry and law, a coup was staged in the eastern empire.

   Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian State, managed to subdued Persia and its surrounding cities under his control, then he proceeded to the Roman kingdoms, so Alexander Severus Caesar hurried to the east with his army. When Ardashir knew, he sent ambassadors demanding all the Persian countries affiliate to the Roman Empire to be submitted to him. Surprised by this boldness, Caesar marched to fight Ardashir.

   Alexander was a leader and an emperor who neither feared death nor accepted mistakes. On his way to fight Ardashir, some soldiers disobeyed the military order, so Caesar decided to try them, saying, “Being silent about the soldiers’ negligence in their duties is a shame to the honor of the kingdom, and it buries the nation’s law”. Meanwhile, some people gathered to see what would be made to the soldiers, and when they heard Alexander’s words, they made a noise, rejecting his words. The soldiers tried to curb the screaming crowds, yet the people’s anger rose and they pointed their weapons to the emperor, he stood bravely amidst them and said: “stab me with your weapons, I do not fear threats and I do not dread blusters.” People had nothing to do except to lay down their weapons as they stood in awe of him.

   The Caesar marched with his armies and defeated Ardashir who fled terrified, Alexander Severus returned to Rome victoriously and was welcomed with joys in Rome. After a while, he led an army to invade Germany which had announced disobedience to Rome, yet when he reached France, sedition sparked among his soldiers in their camp and they fought each other, they entered the tent of the emperor and killed him!

   Regarding Egypt’s conditions under his reign, historians mentioned that his days were of prosperity, progress and sophistication in architecture, knowledge and all science branches; literature and philosophy. Maximinus Caesar succeeded Alexander Severus Caesar

Maximinus Caesar (235 – 238 AD)

   Authors and historians recounted that Maximinus Caesar was of a significantly huge body approaching the giants! Some described his tall height that reached two meters and a half! As for his appearance, he was dreadful for all who saw him, and his strength was beyond imagination that he was able to destroy a tree with his hands!

   He joined the army during the days of Emperor Severus Caesar through a wondrous incident; when he went to the king in order to work for him, the king, after observing his gigantism, ordered him to engage in fights with other soldiers, and he defeated a large number of them, so he was allowed entry to the army. As for the senior positions he occupied in the army, he did not reach them until Emperor Alexander Severus Caesar assumed power, who then appointed him a commander of one of the armies. His military skills appeared at the war against the Persians. After the death of the Caesar, his soldiers announced him as a king, and soon the other armies joined them and then the Roman Senate. Thus, he became the Caesar of Rome.  

   What was weird about Maximinus Caesar is that he was the first Roman emperor to have not set foot in Rome. He was also the first barracks’ emperor or military emperor who ruled Rome from 235 AD until 284 AD during the Roman Empire crisis and they were 14 emperors. The barracks’ emperors could not boast of their families or prominent posts, because all what they had was their military post and the weapons their soldiers carried.

   Maximinus Caesar was an unjust, violent committer of unjustified murderers; he hated the noblemen of Rome, especially those who supported the former emperor, so he murdered quite a few of them. He cruelly treated whoever he was suspicious at attempting to get rid of him or planning for plots against. There were attempts to get rid of him, yet they all failed.

   The onset of Maximinus’ rule was the beginning of the so-called “Third-Century Crisis” or “The Empire Crisis”. The Roman Empire suffered from this crisis between 235 and 248 AD, which caused three problems simultaneously: the external invasion of the empire, the civil war inside the country and the economic collapse.

   The Caesar had bestowed gifts on the soldiers for the taxes imposed on the people. The tax collectors used the most horrific ways to raise these funds from the people. Maximinus severely persecuted the Christians, whom he considered to be the enemies of Rome. He killed a very large number of them. Most of the martyrs were bishops and priests who were thrown to the savage beasts according to his order.

   Given the terrible injustice of the Caesar and his hatred of justice, his soldiers and the people revolted against him, ousted him and crowned the two kings; Gordian the Father and Gordian the Son. They were among the noble families of Rome who lived in Africa in Cartagena (Morocco). They were of a good conduct that after the revolution in Africa against the Roman injustice, they were appointed as two emperors, which made the Roman Senate give them the name “August”. While Maximinus was preparing to fight them in order to restore the throne of Rome, Cappellianus, the Roman governor, was preparing to fight them too, so both Gordian were defeated and murdered.

   Afterwards, the Roman Senate appointed Poppianus and Poppinus to the throne of Rome. When Maximinus was informed about this, he led his army to Rome, yet its gates were closed before him, so he put it under siege. However, his soldiers suffered from diseases and shortage of food, so they revolted against him and killed him and … Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!

The General Bishop

Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center