an to suffer from the impact of corruption and disobedience. These factors had a powerful impact on the political and economic stability of the Roman Empire. Thus, "by 250 the soldiers indiscipline had severely weakened the central authority, while attempts to buy their loyalty had driven the exchequer into bankruptcy" (McEvedy, 1983, p. 86). In the fourth century, the Roman army experienced a series of defeats and losses, which further undermined its forces. These losses were incurred during attempts to stop a civil war led by Constantius; attempts to stop invading Persians under the emperor Justinian; and especially as a result of an unsuccessful battle against the Visigoths at Hadrianople, in which
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