The Crisis of the Third Century was one of the events that brought the Roman empire to the brink of collapse: Economic crisis, internal strifes and foreign incursions continued for decades, while around 50 emperors and pretenders competed for the throne. A number of political and military leaders, among them Odaenathus, Aurelian, and Diocletian attempted to keep the territory of the Empire intact, while a number of Germanic tribes and the newly formed Sassanid Empire attacked it relentlessly. New states called the Palmyran Empire, and Gallic empire wer founded and the Roman Empire was truly divided.