Trajan Decius 249 – 251 AD First emperor from the Balkans C. Messius Quintus Traianus Decius was born about 201 AD in the Balkans at Budalia of Lower Pannonia. Decius not merely came from a military background but had also attained senatorial rank early in his career serving as consul in 232 AD. Decius was also governor of […]

Marcia Otacilia Severa 244-249AD Wife of Philip I Marcia Otacilia Severa was the wife of Philip I (“the Arab”) and the mother of Philip II. Upon her husband’s taking of the throne in 244 AD from the young 19-year-old emperor Gordian III, Otacilia was given the rank of Augusta upholding the Roman tradition. Her son, Philip II, was raised to the […]

PUPIENUS 238 AD (April 22nd–July 29th, 238AD) Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus was a senator of Rome at the time of the deaths of Gordian I and Gordian II in Carthage. The Senate, after having supported the Gordians and declared Maximinus I a public enemy, had little choice but to find someone to defend the Senate itself. […]

Marcus Antonius Gordianus II Gordian II Africanus 238 AD Marcus Antonius Gordianus was the son of Gordian I and the uncle of Gordian III. He was born about 192 AD and II was made co-emperor by his father immediately upon his elevation to the throne in 238 AD. While Gordian I was hailed emperor by […]

Severus Alexander 222-235 AD Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was originally named Alexianus. He was born about 208 AD. Alexander was the son of Julia Mamaea and Gessius Marcianus. At the insistence of his grandmother, Julia Maesa, Alexander  was adopted by his cousin and was adopted by his cousin Elagabalus in 221 AD, making him the […]

Julia Soaemias Mother of Elagabalus Murdered with her son in 222 AD Julia Soaemias was the daughter of Julia Maesa and the mother of Elagabalus and the maternal cousin, of the Roman emperor Caracalla. Julia was indeed very much like her son in many ways particularly when it came to religion. Both Julia and Elagabalus were fanatically […]

Elagabalus 218-222 AD The emperor known to history as Elagabalus takes his name from the sun god of Emesa, for which he was made a high priest on May 16th, 218 AD. Elagabalus was actually born about 205 AD as Varius Avitus Bassianus and later became known as “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus,” the formal name found […]

Caracalla 198-217 AD Son of Septimus Severus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, originally named Julius Bassianus, was born at Lugdunum, Gaul, on April 6th, 188 AD. He was the elder son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. His original name, Bassianus, came from the Syrian side of his family. Following the Civil War in the aftermath of […]

Septimius Severus 193-211 AD Lucius Septimius Severus was born in 146 AD at Leptis Magna (coast of Libya) in Africa and as such was the first Roman Emperor of North African origin. He was of humble origin. His father was Publius Septimus Geta, and two of his father’s cousins did attain the rank of consul. […]

Didia Clara 193 AD Daughter of Didius Julianus Didia Clara was the daughter of Didius Julianus and Manlia Scantilia. Little is known of her personal life. Her portrait is best known for her coinage. All we know is that upon her father’s execution, the body was handed over to Didia and her mother for burial […]