The reign of Marcus Aurelius, the last of the five "good emperors," was followed by a period of conflict, confusion, and civil war. The third century saw the Roman Empire come close to collapse due to civil wars, invasions, and economic problems, including a labor shortage caused by a plague epidemic. Reforms by Diocletian and Constantine in the late third and early fourth centuries led to the creation of the Late Roman Empire, which included a new governmental structure, economic and social systems, and Christianity as the state religion. The expansion of the bureaucracy and army created a demand for more revenues, and the emperors issued edicts to deal with these financial burdens. However, these policies were based on coercion and loss of individual freedom, and they stifled the vitality the Late Empire needed to revive its sagging fortunes. After Constantine's death, the empire continued to divide into western and eastern parts, and in the course of the fifth century, the western part of the empire collapsed due to the migration of Germanic tribes.