"The "barracks emperors" is a term coined by later historians referring to the Roman emperors who were chosen and supported by the army during the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century (also known as the Imperial Crisis, 235-284). In 235, Emperor Alexander Severus (reign 222-235) was assassinated by his troops, who then chose their commander, Maximinus Thrax (reign 235-238), as ruler."
"The barracks emperors rose in response to a series of threats to the stability of the state, both internal and external. The Severan dynasty, of which Alexander was the last, had begun a practice of enlarging the Roman army while also increasing a soldier's pay. In order to afford this large military, Septimius Severus (reign 193-211) debased the currency by adding less precious metal to coins in order to produce more of them."
Army-chosen emperors emerged after 235 when troops killed Alexander Severus and elevated Maximinus Thrax. Military elevation of emperors continued through Carinus (reign 283–285) and marked the Crisis of the Third Century (235–284). The Severan emphasis on a larger, better-paid army drove currency debasement to fund soldiers, producing inflation and eroding public purchasing power. Concurrent plague depopulated rural areas and weakened labor forces. Barbarian incursions across borders intensified external pressures. The combined effects of military dominance, economic instability, demographic loss, and border threats produced repeated soldier-made rulers until Diocletian (reign 284–305) restored stability and reformed the system.
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