Decius vs Intef II

Decius, a Roman senator and general, was proclaimed emperor by the Danubian legions. He marched into Italy and defeated Philip the Arab at the Battle of Verona, where Philip was killed, securing Decius's position as sole emperor.

Decius led a military campaign against the Goths who had invaded the Danubian provinces. He initially achieved some successes, driving the Goths back, but the campaign was hampered by logistical issues and the plague.

Decius issued an edict requiring all Roman citizens to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and obtain a certificate (libellus) proving compliance. This triggered the first empire-wide persecution of Christians, who refused to sacrifice, leading to widespread arrests, torture, and executions.

Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus were killed in battle against the Goths at Abritus (modern Bulgaria). They were ambushed in a swamp by the Gothic king Cniva, making Decius the first Roman emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy.

Intef II became ruler of Thebes, succeeding Intef I. His reign of approximately 50 years was the longest of the 11th Dynasty and marked a period of sustained expansion and consolidation of Theban power.

Intef II captured the Thinite nome (Abydos region) from the Heracleopolitan kingdom. This victory gave Thebes control of a key religious and strategic area, strengthening their position in the ongoing civil war.

Intef II built a large saff-tomb at El-Tarif in Thebes, a new type of royal burial. This tomb, with its long causeway and courtyard, reflected the growing wealth and power of the 11th Dynasty and set a precedent for later Theban burials.

Intef II extended Theban rule northward to the 14th nome of Lower Egypt, near the Faiyum. This expansion brought the Theban kingdom to the borders of the Heracleopolitan domain, setting the stage for eventual reunification.