"During the third century, the Roman Empire was in crisis. The growing threat from Germanic tribes and the Persian Empire, combined with internal difficulties, shook Rome to the core. In many respects the Empire should have collapsed, yet it didn't. Pat Southern's narrative synthesizes a wealth of recent scholarship to bring the era to life. She shows that many of the third century leaders, particularly Gallienus, have been underrated. Far from being responsible for the travails faced by the Empire, their efforts towards consolidation enabled it to survive and helped to transform it into the sacrosanct, absolutist regime that emerged under Diocletian and Constantine."--Jacket.