Editing Severus Alexander (section)

===Germanic War===
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| footer            = ''[[Aureus]]'' of Alexander minted in 222 and 228 marked:<br/>IMP. C. M. AUR. SEV. ALEXAND. AVG.
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A new and menacing enemy started to emerge directly after Alexander's success in the Persian war. In 234, the barbarians crossed the Rhine and Danube in hordes that caused alarm as far as Rome. The soldiers serving under Alexander, already demoralized after their costly war against the Persians, were further discontented with their emperor when their homes were destroyed by the barbarian invaders.{{sfn|Campbell|1984|p=54}}

As word of the invasion spread, the emperor took the front line and went to battle against the Germanic invaders. The Romans prepared heavily for the war, building a fleet to carry the entire army across. However, at this point in Alexander's career, he still knew little about being a general. Because of this, he hoped the mere threat of his armies would be sufficient to persuade the hostile tribes to surrender.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alexander Severus|date=14 December 2021|url=http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/alex-severus-index.html|publisher=Capitoline Museums}}</ref>  Severus enforced a strict military discipline in his men that sparked a rebellion among his legions.<ref name="Western Press Association">{{cite book|title=Library of World History: Containing a Record of the Human Race from the Earliest Historical Period to the Present Time; Embracing a General Survey of the Progress of Mankind in National and Social Life, Civil Government, Religion, Literature, Science and Art, Volume 3|publisher=Western Press Association|location=New York Public Library|page=1442}}</ref> Due to incurring heavy losses against the Persians, and on the advice of his mother, Alexander attempted to buy the Germanic tribes off, so as to gain time.<ref>[[Herodian]], 6:7</ref>

It was this decision that resulted in the [[Legionary|legionaries]] looking down upon Alexander. They considered him dishonorable and feared he was unfit to be Emperor. Under these circumstances the army swiftly looked to replace Alexander.<ref>[[Herodian]], 6:8</ref>

[[Maximinus Thrax|Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus]] was the next best option. He was a soldier from Thrace who had a golden reputation and was working hard to increase his military status.<ref name="Western Press Association"/> He was also a man with superior personal strength, who rose to his present position from a peasant background. With the Thracian's hailing came the end of the Severan Dynasty,<ref name="The Saylor Foundation">{{cite web|title=Severus Alexander (222–235 AD): The Calm before the Storm|url=http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HIST301-7.2-SeverusAlexander-FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HIST301-7.2-SeverusAlexander-FINAL.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|publisher=The Saylor Foundation}}</ref> and, with the growing animosity of Severus' army towards him, the path for his assassination was paved.