After the murders of Balbinus and Pupienus in 238, the Praetorian Guards and the Senate acclaimed Gordian III, grandson of Gordian I, as emperor. He held on to power till 244 but he did have the support of a powerful Praetorian Prefect named Timesitheus. Gordian had some success against the Danubian tribes and Persians but he could not rely on the support of the army after Timesitheus died of illness in 243. Gordian was killed in battle while fighting the Persians near the Euphrates in 244. His death was caused by Philip, the new Praetorian Prefect, who cut off troop supplies at the heat of battle. Philip, who was acclaimed as emperor by the troops, declared that Gordian had died from an illness! The next forty years of the third century were dark times indeed for the Empire. There were no fewer than 14 official emperors and numerous usurpers! The period can be broken down into three phases: further decline and anarchy till the 270s, the breakaway Gallic Empire (260 to 274) and a period of slow recovery from the mid-270s till 285. James R. Wadman B.A., M.A. [History and Archaeology] for TimeLine Originals

Marcus Antonius Gordianus' mother was the daughter of Gordian I and the sister of Gordian II. Gordian III became Caesar (junior emperor) alongside the two new Augusti Balbinus and Pupienus. But only a few months after this, Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered by the praetorian guard. This left Gordian III accede to the throne as emperor. Ominously, it was the praetorians who nominated him to be the next emperor.