Show text differences only
Previous Version
Current Version

ELAGABALUS








Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.


ELAGABALUS, Emperor -- Varius Avitus Bassianus, surnamed Elagabalus, from the name of the divinity, whose worship he had introduced into Rome, was born at Emesa, in Syria A.V.C. 958 (A.D. 205). He was son of Sextus Varius Marcellus and of Julia Soaemias, daughter of Julia Maesa, and niece of Julia Domna; consequently he was cousin to Caracalla. The wealth of his grandmother, added to his relationship with the imperial family of Severus, obtained for him the advantage of being appointed Priest of Elagabalus, or Heliogabalus, a deity the object of particular adoration at Emesa. The same honour was conferred on his cousin Alexander Severus, son of Mamaea, second daughter of Julia Maesa. In 971 (A.D. 218), Maesa, having in view to obtain the empire for her grandson, changed his names into those of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and pretended that he was no the son of his mother's husband, but the fruit of Caracalla's intimacy with Soaemias. The soldiers encamped near Emesa, gained over by the riches of Julia Maesa; and perhaps giving credence to this adulterous parentage, which besides had nothing of unlikelihood in it, proclaimed the Antoninus emperor. The troops of Macrinus having been defeated, Elagabalus, at thirteen years of age, became sole master of the Roman world. After having entered Antioch as conqueror, he addressed to the Senate letters in which, without waiting for the decree of that body, he assumed the titles of "Caesar, son of Antoninus, grandson of Severus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pro-consul, and invested with the Tribunitian power."  At the same time, he named himself consul in the place of Macrinus. He afterwards took the road to Rome, but on his way thither passed the winter at Nicomedia. In 972 (A.D. 219), Elagabalus was consul for the second time at Nicomedia. On his arrival at Rome, he gave there some magnificent spectacles, and caused a temple to be built in honour of his Syrian god. A.D. 220 is the date of his third consulate. In 221 he was consul for the fourth time. Julia Maesa, perceiving that the manners of Elagabalus were displeasing to the Romans, persuaded him to adopt his cousin Alexander Severus, above named. To this Elagabalus consented, and designated him consul with himself for the following year. A short time after, repenting of his compliance with his mother's suggestion, he sought to make away with Severus Alexander; whose life, however was protected by the vigilant care of Maesa, and still better defended by the affection which the soldiers began to entertain for him. In A.D. 222, the praetorians having discovered that Elagabalus was fully bent on the destruction of his cousin, raised a tumult, and required that Alexander, who had been shut up in the palace some days, should be immediately shewn to them.  Elagabalus, yielding to necessity, repaired to the camp of the praetorians, on a car, with the youthful Alexander. The next day, as Elagabalus had given orders to arrest those who had taken a leading part in the insurrection movement of the day before--the rest of the soldiers took advantage of that occasion to get rid of a prince they detested; and they killed Elagabalus, together with his mother Soaemias, and his principal confidants. His body, after having been dragged through the city, was thrown into the Tiber.  Thus perished, on the 11th of March, on of the most cruel, debauched and shameless wretches, that ever disgraced humanity, or polluted a throne, after a reign of three years and nine months, disfigured with every feature of hideous criminality and extravagant folly, not having attained more than the eighteenth year of his age.

Elagabalus celebrated (or rather desecrated) several nuptials. His first wife was Julia Cornelia Paula; but her he soon divorced, for some alleged personal blemish. He next stole away from teh sacred college of Vestals, and married, Aquilia Severa, whom he also repudiated, and afterwards took her again. His third wife was Annia Faustina, whom he forcibly possessed himself of (after causing her husband Pomponius Bassus to be slain), but whom he quickly dismissed, to reunite himself with Aquilia Severa.  Some of his Latin coins represent him with Aquilia Severa, and his mother Soaemias; also, a doubtful one, with Annia Faustina.  The coins of this emperor are numerous.  His gold and first brass are rare; his silver, and second and small brass for the most part are common. –




View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|

ELAGABALUS







Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.


ELAGABALUS, Emperor -- Varius Avitus Bassianus, surnamed Elagabalus, from the name of the divinity, whose worship he had introduced into Rome, was born at Emesa, in Syria A.V.C. 958 (A.D. 205). He was son of Sextus Varius Marcellus and of Julia Soaemias, daughter of Julia Maesa, and niece of Julia Domna; consequently he was cousin to Caracalla. The wealth of his grandmother, added to his relationship with the imperial family of Severus, obtained for him the advantage of being appointed Priest of Elagabalus, or Heliogabalus, a deity the object of particular adoration at Emesa. The same honour was conferred on his cousin Alexander Severus, son of Mamaea, second daughter of Julia Maesa. In 971 (A.D. 218), Maesa, having in view to obtain the empire for her grandson, changed his names into those of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and pretended that he was no the son of his mother's husband, but the fruit of Caracalla's intimacy with Soaemias. The soldiers encamped near Emesa, gained over by the riches of Julia Maesa; and perhaps giving credence to this adulterous parentage, which besides had nothing of unlikelihood in it, proclaimed the Antoninus emperor. The troops of Macrinus having been defeated, Elagabalus, at thirteen years of age, became sole master of the Roman world. After having entered Antioch as conqueror, he addressed to the Senate letters in which, without waiting for the decree of that body, he assumed the titles of "Caesar, son of Antoninus, grandson of Severus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pro-consul, and invested with the Tribunitian power."  At the same time, he named himself consul in the place of Macrinus. He afterwards took the road to Rome, but on his way thither passed the winter at Nicomedia. In 972 (A.D. 219), Elagabalus was consul for the second time at Nicomedia. On his arrival at Rome, he gave there some magnificent spectacles, and caused a temple to be built in honour of his Syrian god. A.D. 220 is the date of his third consulate. In 221 he was consul for the fourth time. Julia Maesa, perceiving that the manners of Elagabalus were displeasing to the Romans, persuaded him to adopt his cousin Alexander Severus, above named. To this Elagabalus consented, and designated him consul with himself for the following year. A short time after, repenting of his compliance with his mother's suggestion, he sought to make away with Severus Alexander; whose life, however was protected by the vigilant care of Maesa, and still better defended by the affection which the soldiers began to entertain for him. In A.D. 222, the praetorians having discovered that Elagabalus was fully bent on the destruction of his cousin, raised a tumult, and required that Alexander, who had been shut up in the palace some days, should be immediately shewn to them.  Elagabalus, yielding to necessity, repaired to the camp of the praetorians, on a car, with the youthful Alexander. The next day, as Elagabalus had given orders to arrest those who had taken a leading part in the insurrection movement of the day before--the rest of the soldiers took advantage of that occasion to get rid of a prince they detested; and they killed Elagabalus, together with his mother Soaemias, and his principal confidants. His body, after having been dragged through the city, was thrown into the Tiber.  Thus perished, on the 11th of March, on of the most cruel, debauched and shameless wretches, that ever disgraced humanity, or polluted a throne, after a reign of three years and nine months, disfigured with every feature of hideous criminality and extravagant folly, not having attained more than the eighteenth year of his age.

Elagabalus celebrated (or rather desecrated) several nuptials. His first wife was Julia Cornelia Paula; but her he soon divorced, for some alleged personal blemish. He next stole away from teh sacred college of Vestals, and married, Aquilia Severa, whom he also repudiated, and afterwards took her again. His third wife was Annia Faustina, whom he forcibly possessed himself of (after causing her husband Pomponius Bassus to be slain), but whom he quickly dismissed, to reunite himself with Aquilia Severa.  Some of his Latin coins represent him with Aquilia Severa, and his mother Soaemias; also, a doubtful one, with Annia Faustina.  The coins of this emperor are numerous.  His gold and first brass are rare; his silver, and second and small brass for the most part are common. –




View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|