Editing Gordian II (section)

==Revolt against Maximinus Thrax==
Early in 235, Emperor Alexander Severus and his mother [[Julia Avita Mamaea]] were assassinated by mutinous troops at [[Mainz|Moguntiacum]] (now Mainz) in [[Germania Inferior]].{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=167}} The leader of the rebellion, [[Maximinus Thrax]], became Emperor, despite his low-born background and the disapproval of the [[Roman Senate]].{{sfn|Southern|p=83}} Confronted by a local elite that had just killed Maximinus's [[procurator (Roman)|procurator]],{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} Gordian's father was forced to participate in a full-scale revolt against Maximinus in 238, probably at the end of March.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} Due to Gordian I's advanced age, the younger Gordian, said to be 46 years old,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 15:2</ref> was attached to the imperial throne and acclaimed ''[[Augustus (title)|augustus]]'' too. Like his father, he too was awarded the ''[[Roman naming conventions|cognomen]]'' "Africanus".{{sfn|Meckler|2001}}

Father and son saw their claim to the throne ratified both by the Senate<ref>[[Herodian]], 7:7:2</ref> and most of the other provinces, due to Maximinus' unpopularity.{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}}

Opposition would come from the neighbouring province of [[Numidia]].{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}} [[Capelianus]], governor of Numidia, a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax, and who held a grudge against Gordian,{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}} renewed his allegiance to the reigning emperor{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} and invaded [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa (province)]] with the only legion stationed in the region, [[Legio III Augusta|III ''Augusta'']], and other veteran units.<ref>[[Herodian]], 7:9:3</ref> Gordian II, at the head of a militia army of untrained soldiers, lost the [[Battle of Carthage (238)|Battle of Carthage]] and was killed.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} According to the ''Historia Augusta'', his body was never recovered.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 16:1</ref> Hearing the news, his father killed himself.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} The Gordians ruled only 22 days.<ref>[[Filocalus]], ''[[Chronograph of 354]]'', [https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chronography_of_354_16_chronicle_of_the_city_of_rome.htm Part 16]: "The two Gordians ruled for 20 days. They died in Africa."</ref><ref>''[[Laterculus]] [[iarchive:chronicaminorasa00momm/page/436/mode/1up|Imperatorum Malalianus]]'' (7th century): "Gordian ruled 22 days."</ref><ref>[[Zonaras]] ({{Circa}} 1120) ''[[Epitome]]'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=lXGCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT42 xvii.17]: "According to some they reigned about twenty-two days, but according to others not quite three months". He confuses the Gordians with [[Balbinus]] and [[Pupienus]].</ref> This first rebellion against Maximinus Thrax was unsuccessful, but by the end of 238 Gordian II's nephew, [[Gordian III]], would be recognised as emperor by the whole Roman world.{{sfn|Southern|p=87}}

According to [[Edward Gibbon]], in the first volume of ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'' (1776–89), "Twenty-two acknowledged concubines, and a library of sixty-two thousand volumes, attested to the variety of [Gordian's] inclinations; and from the productions that he left behind him, it appears that the former as well as the latter were designed for use rather than ostentation."<ref>Quoted in "From the Editor. Ambition, Style and Sacrifices", ''[[History Today]]'', June 2017, p. 3.</ref>