GORDIAN III (238-244)

"The Gates of the Temple of Janus Opened" In 240 CE, Shapur I ascended the Persian throne and demanded the return of territories occupied by Rome that had once been part of the Persian domain. Receiving no response, the King of Kings invaded the eastern provinces. Gordian announced the commencement of war in an ancient manner—by opening the gates of the Temple of Janus in Rome in 242 CE, a ritual signifying the beginning of military campaigns for centuries.

The young emperor personally led his army, which marched through the Danubian provinces, impressing the Goths and Sarmatians with its might. By 243 CE, both Syria and Mesopotamia had been reclaimed. However, the events that unfolded later that year set in motion a tragic sequence that ultimately led to the death of the brave and youthful emperor.