Emperor of the Roman Empire: Philip the Arab

244-249 AD

Emperor Gordian III's sudden death necessitated a swift selection of a new leader, and the position was offered to Philip. His quick acceptance led to suspicions that he orchestrated Gordian III's demise. Philip, originally from Trachonitis in southern Syria, gained the troops' approval by early March 244 and immediately prioritized peace negotiations with the Persian King Shapur. Philip's urgent need to leave Persian territory stemmed from his precarious position: deep within enemy lands, leading a defeated and undersupplied army, and potentially being held responsible for the previous emperor's loss. He also sought to consolidate his power in Rome, learning from the mistakes of Maximinus. To secure a safe withdrawal, Philip paid Shapur a hefty sum equivalent to 500,000 gold dinars and conceded Armenian influence to Persia. Although costly, the terms weren't disastrous; Roman gains in Mesopotamia were retained, and the payment was a one-time ransom, not recurring tribute. The Armenian concession, however, would later cause issues.

After the peace agreement, Philip led his army back, erecting a cenotaph for Gordian III and sending the boy emperor's ashes to Rome for deification. Leaving his brother, Priscus, in charge of the East, Philip arrived in Rome in late summer 244. He quickly had his young son, M. Iulius Severus Philippus, declared Caesar. Staying in Rome until 245, Philip then shifted his focus to the Danube region. The stability established by Timesitheus had been disrupted by his death and the Persian defeat. The Carpi and their allies, possibly including Gothic leaders, began raiding in late 243, advancing into the Balkans by 244. Philip likely encountered these groups on his way back to Rome. In 245, he established headquarters in Philippopolis, Thrace, pushing the Carpi back across the Danube and into Dacia. He claimed complete victory in the summer of 246 and returned to Rome in 247. There, he combined celebrations of his victories, his son's promotion to Augustus, and Rome's 1000th anniversary. The festivities, initially planned for April 21st, 247, were likely postponed until his return.

Troubles soon resurfaced. In late 248, a rebellion erupted in the middle Danube, led by Ti. Claudius Marinus Pacatianus. Though quickly suppressed, it might have encouraged Quadi and Iazyges raids into Pannonia. This regional instability possibly stemmed from troop redeployment to Dacia, where the main threat had already emerged. The Carpi conflicts severely weakened Dacia's southeastern defenses, jeopardizing the vital Transylvanian region and disrupting the imperial defense system. This vulnerability invited further incursions, including the first direct Gothic raid into the Roman Empire. This raid was triggered by Philip's cessation of subsidies to the Goths. While Timesitheus had stopped payments to barbarians near the frontier, these Goths were likely further away and previously enjoyed allied status. Philip's decision to cut subsidies may have been intended to portray him as a strong and frugal leader, but it proved unwise. In early 248, large numbers of Goths and allies invaded Moesia Inferior, prompting renewed Carpi raids into the province and Dacia.

Philip dispatched C. Messius Quintus Decius, a former protégé of Maximinus despite his senatorial background, to the region. Decius was likely given a special command encompassing Pannonia and Moesia to restore order after Pacatianus' revolt and expel the raiders. His success led his troops to proclaim him emperor in May or June 249, reportedly against his will. Even before Decius marched on Rome, Philip faced difficulties. His failure to renew Gothic subsidies reflected broader financial problems, inherited but worsened by his own spending. He further debased the antoninianus, but, wary of Maximinus' mistakes, avoided excessive demands on Italy and Africa. His brother, Priscus, attempted to raise taxes in the East, triggering a short-lived rebellion led by M. F. Ru. Iotapianus. Simultaneous religious riots in Alexandria, possibly linked to Priscus' taxation efforts in Egypt, likely disrupted Rome's wheat supply, damaging Philip's standing despite his efforts to maintain popularity. Rumors suggested Philip was disheartened and ill even before the decisive battle with Decius.

Philip moved to confront the usurper in northern Italy, leaving his son in Rome. The armies clashed at Verona in August or September 249. Philip was defeated and killed, and upon news of his demise, his son was also murdered.

The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 12: The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337