The third century A.D. is known in Roman historical writing as the Crisis of the Third Century — a period of extraordinary political instability, military pressure on multiple frontiers, economic disruption, and cultural stress that came very close to destroying the Roman empire entirely.

Between A.D.

235 and 284, Rome had more than fifty emperors, most of whom held power for only months before being killed by their own soldiers or by rivals.

The frontiers were under constant pressure.

Provinces changed hands.

The monetary system collapsed and recovered multiple times.

For cities like Deultum, in the Balkan provinces between the Danube frontier and the more secure core of the empire, this period brought raids, sacks, and destruction.

The Goths — in this period, the most significant of the Germanic peoples pressing on the Roman frontier — crossed the Danube repeatedly during the third century, raiding deep into the Balkans.