Elagabalus

  • Elagabalus (218-222 CE) became the Roman Emperor when he was 14 years old. He is considered to have been the most decadent of the Roman Emperors and was assassinated when he was 18 years old.
  • His reign is considered to be the beginning of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Varius Avitus Bassianus
    • Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, whilst Emperor.
    • Elagabalus or Heliogabalus, after his death.
  • ELAGABALUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 16 May 218 CE to 11 March 222 CE.
  • FAMILY DYNASTY
  • ELAGABALUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born: 203 CE. Died 11 March 222 CE. Aged 18.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Emesa, Syria. Died in Rome.
  • ELAGABALUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • ELAGABALUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • Elagabalus was proclaimed Emperor at the age of 14 by the Legio III Gallica in Raphanea, who defeated Macrinus near Antioch.
    • His influential grandmother, Julia Maesa, had been instrumental in persuading the Legion that her son was the illegitimate son of Caracalla.
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • WHERE BURIED:
    • His body was thrown into the Tiber, along with that of his Mother.
  • ELAGABALUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • Elagabalus introduced a national holiday to worship the Sun, Sol Invictus, shortly after 21st December.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

  • Elagabalus was the High Priest of the Arab-Roman Sun God Elagabal in Syria.
  • Elagabalus was proclaimed Emperor at the age of 14 by the Legio III Gallica in Raphanea, who defeated Macrinus near Antioch.
  • His influential grandmother, Julia Maesa, had been instrumental in persuading the Legion that her son was the illegitimate son of Caracalla.
  • He is considered to have been the most decadent of all the Emperors and his reign to have marked the beginning of the Fall of the Roman Empire.
  • He was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard. His body was thrown into the Tiber, along with that of his Mother.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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