Editing Crisis of the Third Century (section)

===Increased militarization===
All the [[barracks emperor]]s based their power on the military and on the soldiers of the field armies, not on the Praetorians in Rome. Thus, Rome lost its role as the political center of the empire during the third century, although it remained ideologically important. In order to legitimize and secure their rule, the emperors of the third century needed above all military successes.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Johne |first1=Klaus-Peter |title=Die Zeit der Soldatenkaiser: Krise und Transformation des Römischen Reiches im 3. Jahrhundert n. Chr. (235–284) |last2=Hartmann |first2=Udo |last3=Gerhardt |first3=Thomas |date=2008 |publisher=Akademie Verlag |isbn=978-3050045290 |location=Rome |page=1026}}</ref>

The centre of decision-making shifted away from Rome and to wherever the emperor was with his armies, typically, in the east. This led to the transfer of the capital to the four cities Milan, Trier, Nicomedia, and Sirmium, and then to Constantinople. The Senate ceased to be the main governing organ and instead members of the equestrian class who filled the military officer corps became increasingly prominent.{{sfn|Watson|2004|pp=14–15}}