Events By Place Roman Empire Pressure on Rome by Goths, Quadi, Sassanids, Franks and Alemanni increases. Following a defeat by the Germans, Alexander Severus and his mother Julia Mamaea, are massacred near Mainz (Mongontiacum) by his soldiers. Severan dynasty ends. Maximinus Thrax becomes Emperor. Having a Gothic father and an Alan mother, he's the first foreigner to hold the Roman throne. His accession leads to the Crisis of the Third Century. By Topic Religion A number of church leaders,… (More on 235)