Crisis of the 3rd Century Β· War Crimes & Atrocities
The Crisis of the Third Century fell most heavily on civilians. Barbarian raiders sacked cities across the Balkans, Greece, and Asia Minor that had known peace for centuries; the Sasanian Persians stormed the great cities of the East and deported their populations; and the Roman state itself turned on its own subjects, launching the first empire-wide persecutions of Christians. Above all, the Plague of Cyprian killed on a scale that dwarfed any massacre.
3,000+
deaths
Victims: Christians across the Roman Empire(The number executed is uncertain but ran into the thousands; far more were imprisoned, tortured, or forced to apostatise.)
20,000+
deaths
Victims: The people of Greece and Asia Minor(The seaborne Gothic raids sacked many cities and killed and enslaved large numbers; precise figures do not survive.)
15,000+
deaths
Victims: The populations of Antioch and the eastern cities(Beyond those killed in the storming of cities, tens of thousands of captives were deported to Persia; the total is unknown.)