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Marcus Numerius Carus (222-283) was born in Gaul but educated in Rome. A senator, he filled various civil and military posts before eventually being appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard by Emperor Probus in 282.<br/><br/> Either right before or after Probus' assassination, Carus was proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, with Probus' attempts to stop this usurpation leading to his murder by his own soldiers in late 282. Carus avenged the death of Probus by executing his killers, but he was suspected as having been an accessory to the deed. Carus' main achievement during his brief reign was waging a successful campaign against the Sassanid Empire, striking deep into Persian territory and making it all the way to the capital city of Ctesiphon.<br/><br/> Carus died in 283 before further conquest could be conducted however, with various reasons attributed to his death, from disease, to a war wound or being struck by lightning during a violent storm. He was naturally succeeded by his son Numerian without any conflict.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) was a career soldier, having entered the army as soon as he reached adulthood sometime in 250. He distinguished himself under Emperors Valerian, Aurelian and Tacitus, and when Tacitus died in 276, Probus' soldiers proclaimed him emperor, despite a rival claim by Florianus, Tacitus' half-brother. Though Florianus' reign is recognised, it was brief and lasted only eighty-eight days, as he was soon murdered by his own troops after losing a battle against Probus. Probus was ratified as emperor after this.<br/><br/> The first years of his reign saw him campaign successfully against the Germanic tribes in Gaul, and he began the strategy of settling the conquered Germanic tribes in the devastated provinces of the empire, to rebuild and restart them. He also put down at least three revolts and usurpers between 280-281, as well as fighting against the Blemmyes in Egypt and the Vandals in Illyricum.<br/><br/> In 282, the commander of the Praetorian Guard Marcus Aurelius Carus had been proclaimed, probably unwillingly, as emperor by his soldiers. Probus sent troops to defeat the usurper, but they turned on him and supported Carus' claim, while his remaining soldiers assassinated him near the end of the year. Other sources claimed that the soldiers murdered him due to being ordered to complete civic purposes such as draining marshes, something they considered beneath them.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule. Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the antoninianus, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire. Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Commodus (161-192) was born in 161 and was son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At 15 years old, Commodus become co-emperor with his father in 177, making Marcus Aurelius the first emperor to have a legitimate biological heir since Vespasian. He became sole emperor three years later, when his father died in 180.<br/><br/> One of his first acts was to devalue the Roman currecy, the largest reduction since Nero's reign. Unlike his father's reign of almost continuous warfare, Commodus ruled over a relatively peaceful Empire, though it was marked by political strife and increasingly megalomaniacal behaviour by Commodus himself. Roman historian Dio Cassius stated that Commodus' reign marked the decline 'from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust', with many claiming that Commodus' terrible rule began the decline of the Roman Empire.<br/><br/> Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess, and often compared himself to Hercules, seeing himself as a reincarnation of the demigod. He also sometimes fought in scandalous gladiatorial games. His despotic and disgraceful rule was eventually ended with his assassination on the 31st of December, 192, when he was strangled by his wrestling partner Narcissus after a previous poisoning attempt had failed. He was declared a public enemy by the Senate after his death and his statues were thrown down.
Marcus Aurelius (121-180) was born in 121 to a prominent family in Iberian Baetica. Marcus Aurelius, along with future joint emperor Lucius Verus, was adopted by Antoninus Pius upon his own adoption as heir by Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius was a nephew of Antoninus' wife, and soon became his favoured son.<br/><br/> When Antoninus Pius passed away in 161, Marcus Aurelius became co-emperor with his adopted brother Lucius Verus, though he was resistant to becoming emperor at first. Marcus refused to take office unless Lucius was given equal powers, upsetting the senate's wishes to confirm Marcus alone. Together they co-ruled the Empire until Lucius' death from plague in 169, the first time Rome had ever been ruled by two emperors.<br/><br/> Marcus Aurelius defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire during his reign, also successfully waging the Marcomannic Wars in central Europe. Marcus was a stern follower of Stoicism, and his writings on it, commonly known as 'Meditations', are some of the more significant sources on ancient Stoic philosophy. He died in 180 at the age of 58, becoming the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Claudius II (210-270), also known as Claudius Gothicus, was of Illyrian origin and barbarian birth. He was a career soldier, having served his entire adult life in the Roman army. He was a military tribune in Emperor Gallienus' army during the siege of Milan in 268 when Gallienus was murdered by his own ofifcials, possibly including Claudius. Claudius was then proclaimed emperor by his own soldiers, possibly because of his physical strength and cruelty.<br/><br/> Claudius, like the previous barbarian emperor Maximinus Thrax, was a soldier-emperor, the first in a series that would restore the Empire from the disaster that had been the Crisis of the Third Century. The Empire had been divided into three different entities under the reign of Gallienus, with the Gallic Empire in the West and Palmyrene Empire in the East. Claudius, however, focused his immediate attentions on dealing with foreign invaders, defeating the Goths during the Battle of Naissus in one of the greatest victories in Roman history, earning him the surname 'Gothicus' (conquerer of the Goths).<br/><br/> He then turned his attention to the Gallic Empire, winning several victories and regaining control of Hispania and parts of Gaul. He was killed by the Plague of Cyprian in January 270 before he could finish off the Gallic Empire however, naming Aurelian as his successor.
Maximian (250-310) was born in the province of Pannonia to a family of shopkeepers, and joined the army as soon as he could, serving alongside future co-emperor Diocletian under emperors Aurelian, Probus and Carus. After Diocletian became emperor in 284, Maximian was soon appointed co-emperor in 286, matching Maximian's military brawn with Diocletian's political brain.<br/><br/> Maximian spent most of his time on campaign, fighting against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier and in Gaul. When the man Maximian had appointed to govern the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286 and seceded Britain and northwestern Gaul from the Roman Empire, Maximian tried but failed to oust Carausius. The rebellion was eventually crushed in 296, and Maximian moved south to fight pirates near Hispania.<br/><br/> He eventually returned to Italy in 298, living in comfort until he abdicated in 305 alongside Diocletian, handing power to the other two co-emperors of the Tetrachy, Constantius and Galerius, and retiring to southern Italy. Maximian returned to power in 306 when he aided his son Maxentius' rebellion. He later tried to depose his son but failed, fleeing to the court of Constantius' successor, Constantine. He was forced to renounce his title by Diocletian and Galerius, and he committed suicide in 310 after a failed attempt to usurp Constantine's title.
Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) was a career soldier, having entered the army as soon as he reached adulthood sometime in 250. He distinguished himself under Emperors Valerian, Aurelian and Tacitus, and when Tacitus died in 276, Probus' soldiers proclaimed him emperor, despite a rival claim by Florianus, Tacitus' half-brother. Though Florianus' reign is recognised, it was brief and lasted only eighty-eight days, as he was soon murdered by his own troops after losing a battle against Probus. Probus was ratified as emperor after this.<br/><br/> The first years of his reign saw him campaign successfully against the Germanic tribes in Gaul, and he began the strategy of settling the conquered Germanic tribes in the devastated provinces of the empire, to rebuild and restart them. He also put down at least three revolts and usurpers between 280-281, as well as fighting against the Blemmyes in Egypt and the Vandals in Illyricum.<br/><br/> In 282, the commander of the Praetorian Guard Marcus Aurelius Carus had been proclaimed, probably unwillingly, as emperor by his soldiers. Probus sent troops to defeat the usurper, but they turned on him and supported Carus' claim, while his remaining soldiers assassinated him near the end of the year. Other sources claimed that the soldiers murdered him due to being ordered to complete civic purposes such as draining marshes, something they considered beneath them.
Maxentius (278-312) was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and son-in-law to Emperor Galerius. When his father and Emperor Diocletian stepped down, Maxentius was passed over in the new tetrarchy established by Emperors Constantius and Galerius, the latter nominating Severus and Maximinus Daia as junior co-emperors. Galerius hated Maxentius and used his influence to halt his succession.<br/><br/> When Constantius died in 306 and his son Constantine was crowned emperor and accepted into the tetrarchy, Maxentius was publicly proclaimed emperor later in the same year by officers in Rome. Severus marched to Rome in 307 to punish Maxentius, but most of his army defected when they arrived, having served under his father Maximian for many years. Maxentius invited his father back to the capital and named him co-emperor, though this lasted less than a year before Maximian fled to the court of Constantine after a failed coup.<br/><br/> Maxentius ruled over his portion of the empire for roughly six years, and was mostly preoccupied with a civil war against Emperors Constantine and Licinius. He allied himself with Emperor Maximinus II to secure his power, but he eventually perished during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 against Constantine, where he supposedly drowned in the Tiber River while attempting to retreat.
Carinus (-285) was Emperor Carus' eldest son, and was appointed Caesar in the beginning of 283, made co-emperor of the western portion of the Roman Empire while his father and younger brother Numerian headest eastwards to fight the Sassanid Empire.<br/><br/> When his father died in mid-283, Carinus and Numerian became co-emperors of the Empire, with Carinus swiftly returning to Rome to celebrate his ascension. In 284, Numerian was found dead in his closed coach under mysterious circumstances, with Diocletian, commander of Numerian's bodyguards, claiming that Numerian had been assassinated. Diocletian was almost immediately proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, and Carinus was forced to march and face him.<br/><br/> The two armies clashed in 285, with differing accounts on what occurred. One acount claims that Carinus' forces were winning, but the emperor was assassinated by a jealous tribune whose wife Carinus had seduced. A more believable account claims that Diocletian's troops secured a complete victory, and Carinus' army deserted him, leading to either his death by murder or execution. Carinus posthumously gained a reputation as one of the Empire's worst emperors, a slandering possibly supported by newly crowned Diocletian himself.
Numerian (-284) was the son of Emperor Carus and older brother to Carinus, who he would be joint emperor with in later life. Carus immediately elevated both Carinus and Numerian to Caesars after his ascension to the throne, taking Numerian east with him to wage war against the Sassanid Empire while Carinus was left in charge of the West.<br/><br/> Carus soon died after becoming emperor, making Numerian and Carinus the new emperors. While Carinus rushed back to Rome, Numerian lingered in the East, returning at a leisurely and ordered pace, unworried by the Persians due to their own internal issues. However, disaster struck on the way back.<br/><br/> While travelling through Asia Minor, Numerian began suffering from an inflammation of the eyes and had to travel by closed coach. Somewhere near Bithynia, Numerian's soldiers began smelling an odd odour coming from the coach, like that of a decaying corpse. They opened the coach's curtains to find Numerian dead within.
Quintillus (212-270) was born at Sirmium to a low-born family, only coming to any prominence when his brother Claudius II Gothicus became emperor in 268. When Claudius II died two years later in 270, Quintillus was declared his successor, either by the Roman Senate or by his brother's soldiers.<br/><br/> The exact dates and length of Quintillus' reign are contradictory, lasting anything from 17 to 177 days. Similarly, the cause of his death is unknown, with some sources stating that he was murdered by his own soldiers for his strict military discipline, while others report him being killed in battle against rival claimant Aurelian. Still some sources claim that he committed suicide.<br/><br/> What few records remain of him claim Quintillus to be a moderate and capable ruler, a champion of the Senate and spiritual successor to previous Emperors Galba and Pertinax.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the antoninianus, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 to a prominent family in Iberian Baetica. Marcus Aurelius, along with future joint emperor Lucius Verus, was adopted by Antoninus Pius upon his own adoption as heir by Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius was a nephew of Antoninus' wife, and soon became his favoured son.<br/><br/> When Antoninus Pius passed away in 161, Marcus Aurelius became co-emperor with his adopted brother Lucius Verus, though he was resistant to becoming emperor at first. Marcus refused to take office unless Lucius was given equal powers, upsetting the senate's wishes to confirm Marcus alone. Together they co-ruled the Empire until Lucius' death from plague in 169, the first time Rome had ever been ruled by two emperors.<br/><br/> Marcus Aurelius defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire during his reign, also successfully waging the Marcomannic Wars in central Europe. Marcus was a stern follower of Stoicism, and his writings on it, commonly known as 'Meditations', are some of the more significant sources on ancient Stoic philosophy. He died in 180 at the age of 58, becoming the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Commodus was born in 161 and was son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At 15 years old, Commodus become co-emperor with his father in 177, making Marcus Aurelius the first emperor to have a legitimate biological heir since Vespasian. He became sole emperor three years later, when his father died in 180.<br/><br/> One of his first acts was to devalue the Roman currecy, the largest reduction since Nero's reign. Unlike his father's reign of almost continuous warfare, Commodus ruled over a relatively peaceful Empire, though it was marked by political strife and increasingly megalomaniacal behaviour by Commodus himself. Roman historian Dio Cassius stated that Commodus' reign marked the decline 'from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust', with many claiming that Commodus' terrible rule began the decline of the Roman Empire<br/><br/> Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess, and often compared himself to Hercules, seeing himself as a reincarnation of the demigod. He also sometimes fought in scandalous gladiatorial games. His despotic and disgraceful rule was eventually ended with his assassination on the 31st of December, 192, when he was strangled by his wrestling partner Narcissus after a previous poisoning attempt had failed. He was declared a public enemy by the Senate after his death and his statues were thrown down.
Constantine I (272-337), also known as Constantine the Great and Saint Constantine, was the son of Emperor Constantius. His father sent him east to serve under Emperors Diocletian and Galerius, spending some time in the court of the latter. After his father died in 306 CE, Constantine was proclaimed his successor and emperor by his army at Eboracum (York).<br/><br/> He at first remained officially neutral in the efforts of Emperor Galerius to defeat the usurper Maxentius, but after Galerius' death, Constantine was dragged into the conflict. He eventually defeated Maxentius in 312 CE, and then fought against his erstwhile ally, Emperor Licinius, for sole control of both western and eastern portions of the Roman Empire. Licinius was defeated in 324 CE, and Constantine became emperor of a united empire.<br/><br/> Constantine enacted many reforms strengthening the empire, ending the tetrarchy system and restructuring government. He became the first emperor to claim conversion to Christianity, and he called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, overseeing the profession of the Nicene Creed. He renamed Byzantium to Constantinople after himself, which would become the new capital. He died in 337 CE.
Maximian (250-310) was born in the province of Pannonia to a family of shopkeepers, and joined the army as soon as he could, serving alongside future co-emperor Diocletian under emperors Aurelian, Probus and Carus. After Diocletian became emperor in 284, Maximian was soon appointed co-emperor in 286, matching Maximian's military brawn with Diocletian's political brain.<br/><br/> Maximian spent most of his time on campaign, fighting against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine frontier and in Gaul. When the man Maximian had appointed to govern the Channel shores, Carausius, rebelled in 286 and seceded Britain and northwestern Gaul from the Roman Empire, Maximian tried but failed to oust Carausius. The rebellion was eventually crushed in 296, and Maximian moved south to fight pirates near Hispania.<br/><br/> He eventually returned to Italy in 298, living in comfort until he abdicated in 305 alongside Diocletian, handing power to the other two co-emperors of the Tetrachy, Constantius and Galerius, and retiring to southern Italy. Maximian returned to power in 306 when he aided his son Maxentius' rebellion. He later tried to depose his son but failed, fleeing to the court of Constantius' successor, Constantine. He was forced to renounce his title by Diocletian and Galerius, and he committed suicide in 310 after a failed attempt to usurp Constantine's title.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Severus Alexander (208-235 CE) was cousin to Emperor Elagabalus, and his heir apparent. When Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE, the fourteen-year-old became emperor, under the auspice of his grandmother Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Alexander's accession just as she had done with Elagabalus before him.<br/><br/> Alexander quickly did much to correct the domestic troubles Elagabalus had caused, cleaning up the image of the imperial throne and improving the morals and dignity of the state. His reign was considered prosperous, but militarily, the Empire was faced against the rising threat of the Sassanid Empire in the east, as well as the tribes of Germania. It was during his campaign against the latter that Alexander would meet his end. His attempts to negotiate peace with the Germanic tribes through bribery and diplomacy alienated many in the Roman Army, and ultimately led to his assassination in 235 CE.<br/><br/> His death saw the end of the Severan dynasty and marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, which resulted in nearly 50 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and economic collapse throughout the Empire.
Elagabalus (203-222 CE), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217 CE, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing Elagabalus as emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218 CE, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have had been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Elagabalus (203-222 CE), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217 CE, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing Elagabalus as emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218 CE, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have had been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Elagabalus (203-222 CE), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217 CE, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing Elagabalus as emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218 CE, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have had been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Elagabalus (203-222 CE), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217 CE, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing Elagabalus as emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218 CE, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have had been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters., Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Septimius Severus (145-211 CE) was born in the Roman province of Africa, and advanced steadily through the customary succession of offices (the 'cursus honorum') during the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. He was governor of Pannonia Superior when word of Pertniax's murder and Didius Julianus' accession reached him in 193 CE.<br/><br/> In response to Julianus' controversial accession through buying the emperorship in an auction, many rivals rose up and declared themselves emperor, with Severus being one of them, beginning what was known as the Year of the Five Emperors. Hurrying to Rome, Severus executed Julianus, and then fought his rival claimants for control of the Empire. By 197 CE, he was the sole power in the Empire, and began once more waging war to expand the borders of the Empire.<br/><br/> Severus fell ill in late 210 CE, fatally so, and died in early 211 CE. He was succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta, founding the Severan dynasty, the last dynasty of the Roman Empire before the Crisis of the Third Century.
Septimius Severus (145-211 CE) was born in the Roman province of Africa, and advanced steadily through the customary succession of offices (the 'cursus honorum') during the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. He was governor of Pannonia Superior when word of Pertniax's murder and Didius Julianus' accession reached him in 193 CE.<br/><br/> In response to Julianus' controversial accession through buying the emperorship in an auction, many rivals rose up and declared themselves emperor, with Severus being one of them, beginning what was known as the Year of the Five Emperors. Hurrying to Rome, Severus executed Julianus, and then fought his rival claimants for control of the Empire. By 197 CE, he was the sole power in the Empire, and began once more waging war to expand the borders of the Empire.<br/><br/> Severus fell ill in late 210 CE, fatally so, and died in early 211 CE. He was succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta, founding the Severan dynasty, the last dynasty of the Roman Empire before the Crisis of the Third Century.
Claudius II (210-270), also known as Claudius Gothicus, was of Illyrian origin and barbarian birth. He was a career soldier, having served his entire adult life in the Roman army. He was a military tribune in Emperor Gallienus' army during the siege of Milan in 268 when Gallienus was murdered by his own ofifcials, possibly including Claudius. Claudius was then proclaimed emperor by his own soldiers, possibly because of his physical strength and cruelty.<br/><br/> Claudius, like the previous barbarian emperor Maximinus Thrax, was a soldier-emperor, the first in a series that would restore the Empire from the disaster that had been the Crisis of the Third Century. The Empire had been divided into three different entities under the reign of Gallienus, with the Gallic Empire in the West and Palmyrene Empire in the East. Claudius, however, focused his immediate attentions on dealing with foreign invaders, defeating the Goths during the Battle of Naissus in one of the greatest victories in Roman history, earning him the surname 'Gothicus' (conquerer of the Goths).<br/><br/> He then turned his attention to the Gallic Empire, winning several victories and regaining control of Hispania and parts of Gaul. He was killed by the Plague of Cyprian in January 270 before he could finish off the Gallic Empire however, naming Aurelian as his successor.
Born as Lucius Septimius Bassianus (188-217 CE) but renamed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus after his father's union with the families of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, he gained his agnomen Caracalla from a Gallic hooded tunic which he often wore. Eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus, he reigned jointly with his father from 198 CE until his father's death in 211 CE. He then became joint emperor with his younger brother Geta, but he quickly murdered his brother less than a year into their joint rule.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign was marked by continued assaults from the Germanic peoples as well as constant domestic instability. Caracalla was famed for enacting the Edict of Caracalla, also known as the Antonine Constitution, which granted Roman citizenship to almost all the freemen living throughout the Empire. He was also known for his establishment of a new Roman currency, the <i>antoninianus</i>, as well as building the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest in Rome. In terms of infamy, Caracalla was known for his massacres against the Roman people and other citizens of the Empire.<br/><br/> Caracalla's reign ended in 217 CE, after he had instigated a new campaign against the Parthian Empire. Caracalla had stopped briefly to urinate when a soldier approached him and stabbed him to death, incensed by Caracalla's refusal to grant him the position of Centurion. Caracalla would be posthumously known for his savage cruelty and treachery, as well as for murdering his own brother and his brother's supporters.
Pertinax (126-193 CE) was born the son of a freed slave, and worked as a teacher before becoming an officer in the army. Successful campaigns against the Parthians saw him rise in rank and prestige, with Pertinax eventually rising to become a member of the Senate.<br/><br/> Pertinax was declared emperor by the Praetorian Guard after the death of Commodus, where he immediately tried to institute several sweeping reforms. One of these reforms was the restoration of discipline amongst the pampered Praetorian Guard, making enemies that ultimately resulted in Pertinax's assassination by members of the Guard just under three months into his reign. After his death, the Praetorians acutioned off the imperial title, resulting in a brief civil war and the year 193 CE becoming known as the Year of the Five Emperors.<br/><br/> Pertinax was later deified by Septimius Severus, the emperor after Pertinax's successor, Didius Julianus. His reputation throughout history has largely been a positive one, though his short reign has made it difficult to dertermine what his rule would have truly been like.
Elagabalus (203-222 CE), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217 CE, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing Elagabalus as emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218 CE, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have had been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 CE at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Elagabalus (203-222), also known as Heliogabalus, was a Syrian and a member of the Severan dynasty. Elagabalus was the grandson of Julia Maesa and cousin to Emperor Caracalla. When Caracalla was assassinated in 217, Julia Maesa instigated a revolt against his killer and successor, Macrinus, championing for Elagabalus to be declared emperor. Macrinus was defeated and executed in 218, and Elagabalus was proclaimed emperor at barely 14 years old.<br/><br/> His reign was notorious for its numerous religious controversies and sex scandals, with Elagabalus showing a marked disregard for traditional Roman religious and sexual values. He was said to have been married as many as five times, had many male lovers, and was even reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. He developed a reputation for extreme decadence, eccentricity and zealotry to the god he was named after, Elagabalus, and whom he declared the new head of the Roman pantheon.<br/><br/> His actions and behaviour estranged both commoner and Praetorian Guard, and after four years of rule, Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 at the age of 18. The plot was orchestrated by Julia Maesa, the same grandmother that had placed him on the throne, and carried out by the Praetorian Guard, with his cousin Severus Alexander replacing him as emperor. Elagabalus developed one of the worst reputations among Roman emperors in history.
Óc Eo is an archaeological site in Thoại Sơn District in southern An Giang Province, Vietnam, in the Mekong River Delta region of Vietnam. It is also one of the modern day communes of Vietnam. Óc Eo may have been a busy port of the kingdom of Funan between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. Scholars use the term 'Óc Eo Culture' to refer to the ancient material culture of the Mekong Delta region that is typified by the artifacts recovered at Óc Eo through archeological investigation.<br/><br/> The remains found at Óc Eo include pottery, tools, jewelry, casts for making jewelry, coins (including coins from the Roman Empire), and religious statues. Many of the remains have been collected and are on exhibition in the Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City.