Alexander Severus

He became the emperor at the tender age of 13 and was thus highly dependent on the guidance of his mother and grandmother and solely on his mother after his grandmother’s death.

He was married thrice. He married Sallustia Orbiana in 225 and divorced her in 227. His second wife was Sulpicia Memmia, a member of an ancient Patrician family in Rome. He also had another wife whose identity is not known. He did not have children with any of his wives.

He had become very unpopular among his own soldiers due to his incompetence especially during the German war. Alexander, along with his mother, was assassinated on 19 March 235. He was the last of the Syrian emperors.

He was born on 1 October 208 to Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus, a Syrian Roman Aristrocrat, and Julia Avita Mamaea, a powerful Roman woman. His maternal grandmother was Julia Maesa, a woman who held lofty political ambitions.

From a young age he was trained in literature and military services. Some of his teachers included Valerius Cordus, Titus Veturius, and Aurelius Philippus.

He was a handsome boy who loved to socialize with his friends. He was a very simple person who wore plain white robes and cloaks and was not fond of imperial clothing or gold.

In 218 his cousin, Elagabalus, was made the emperor. At that time Elagabalus was just 14 years old and his grandmother Julia Maesa had played a prominent role in his becoming the emperor.

Julia Maesa used her influence to persuade Elagabalus to adopt the young Alexander and proclaim him as the heir apparent. However, later on Elagabalus changed his mind and rumors were rife that he saw Alexander as a threat and planned to have him eliminated.

In 222 Elagabalus was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard in a plot formulated by his own grandmother in order to bring her other grandson to power. Thus Alexander became the emperor, unopposed, at the age of 13.

Since he was too young to rule on his own, he was often guided by his mother and grandmother. In spite of his young age he tried his best to rule in the true interest of his people.

He employed noted jurists for administration of justice and it is claimed that he created a board of 16 senators. He dismissed excessive extravagance at the imperial court and created a municipal council of 14.