Editing Severus Alexander (section)

=== Early reign ===
[[File:Severus Alexander Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek IN1283.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Bust of young Severus Alexander, [[Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek]], Copenhagen]]
Severus Alexander became emperor when he was around 14 years old, making him the second youngest sole emperor in [[Roman Empire|Rome]]'s history, second only to [[Gordian III]], who was 13.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boteva |first=Dilyana |date=2017 |title=Gordian III and Philip II on coin obverses with two face-to-face busts depicting Sarapis/Theos Megas |url=https://www.academia.edu/38598993 |journal=Ex Nummis Lux: Studies in Ancient Numismatics in Honour of Dimitar Dragano |pages=327–337}}</ref> Alexander's grandmother [[Julia Maesa|Maesa]] believed that he had more potential to rule and gain support from the [[Praetorian Guard]] than her other grandson, the increasingly unpopular emperor [[Elagabalus]].<ref name=women>Jasper Burns (2006). ''Great Women of Imperial Rome: Mothers and Wives of the Caesars''. London: Routledge, pp. 214–217. {{ISBN|1134131852}}</ref> Thus, to preserve her own position, she had Elagabalus adopt the young Alexander and then arranged for Elagabalus' assassination, securing the throne for Alexander.<ref>Wells, Colin (1997). ''The Roman Empire'', Harvard University Press.</ref> The Roman army hailed Alexander as emperor on 13 March 222, and the Senate ratified this the following day, conferring on him the titles of ''[[Augustus (title)|Augustus]]'', ''[[Pater patriae]]'' and ''[[Pontifex maximus]]''.<ref>''[[Feriale Duranum]]'' [http://papyri.info/ddbdp/rom.mil.rec;1;117 20–25]: iii I[d]us Ṃ[artias quod] Imp(erator) [Caesar M(arcus) Aurelius Severus Alexander im]peratọṛ ap[pellat]ụ[s... [Pridie Idu]ṣ [Martias q]uod Ạ[lexander Augustus no]ṣ[ter Augustus et Pater] [Patriae et Pontife]x̣ Max̣[imus appellatus s]ịṭ supp̣[licat]io.</ref>

Throughout his life, Alexander relied heavily on guidance from his grandmother, Maesa, before her death in 224, and mother, [[Julia Avita Mamaea|Julia Mamaea]].<ref name=women /> As a young, immature, and inexperienced adolescent, Alexander knew little about government, warcraft, or the role of ruling over an empire. In time, however, the army came to admire what Jasper Burns refers to as "his simple virtues and moderate behavior, so different from [Elagabalus]".<ref name=women />