Alexander Severus is called to face German invaders in Gaul, who in 234 have breached the Rhine frontier in several places, destroying forts and overrunning the countryside.

Alexander musters his forces, bringing legions from the eastern provinces, and crosses the Rhine into Germany on a pontoon bridge.

Initially on the advice of his mother, he attempts to buy the German tribes off, so as to gain time.

Whether this is a wise policy or not, it causes the Roman legionaries to look down on their emperor as one who is prepared to commit unsoldierly conduct.

Herodian says "in their opinion Alexander showed no honorable intention to pursue the war and preferred a life of ease, when he should have marched out to punish the Germans for their previous insolence". (Herodian, 6:7:10)