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However, beneath the surface, the state had been undermined by a series of problems. Inflation as a result of the debasing of the currency was causing persistent economic issues.<ref>Heckster, p 127</ref> Moreover, the plague that had ravaged Rome and its provinces in the 160s had led to a dramatic drop in the population, and this was to have long-term consequences for the Imperial territories.
After the death of Emperor Severus, his sons Geta and Caracalla ruled as co-Emperors. Caracalla murdered his brother and became sole ruler and according to Gibbon he ‘was the common enemy of mankind.’<ref>Gibbon, Edward, <i>Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</i>, chapter 6</ref> After Caracalla was assassinated, in 217 AD, he was succeeded by an alleged relative Elagabalus, a former priest in a sun-cult in Syria. The sources are all hostile to Elagabalus who it is said tried to impose his religion on Rome and who may have been a transsexual.<ref>Gibbon, I, Chp 6</ref> When he was assassinated (222 AD) he was succeeded by his nephew Alexander Severus, who was a benign ruler who was prepared to cooperate with the Senate. However, he too was assassinated, and his death is widely seen as the start of the Third Century Crisis.<ref>Hekster, p 198</ref>
====The Third Century Crisis====
