IMPERATOR CAESAR VESPASIAN AUGUSTUS PONTIFEX MAXIMUS TRIBUNICIA POTESTATE PATER PATRIAE CONSUL TERTIUM
(yes, the Romans were very fond of abbreviations)
Emperor (or 'Commander') Caesar Vespasian Augustus, high priest, holder of tribunician power (veto and the power to propose legislation), father of the fatherland, consul (elected political leader) for the third time
After the deaths of Emperors Gordianus I and II, the Roman Senate had a major problem. It had not long before declared soldier emperor Maximinus I Thrax an enemy of the people, and this Maximinus meanwhile marched with his army to Rome. In an emergency session of the Senate, Pupienus and Balbinus were then elected emperors. The people, however, did not take this lightly, and became restless. By appointing the later Gordianus III as Caesar, worse was prevented.
Pupienus, the more militarily experienced of the two emperors went to Ravenna to build up an army and take on Maximinus. This went surprisingly well, as Pupienus was able to get many soldiers from Germania, and Maximinus' supplies ran out. Maximinus was then killed by his soldiers, who otherwise kept quiet after a commutation.
Pupienus returned to Rome, where Balbinus did not control the situation. However, peace returned somewhat with the arrival of Pupienus. However, the emperors among themselves did not trust each other on