Editing Severan dynasty (section)

===Elagabalus (218&ndash;222)===
{{Main|Elagabalus}}
[[File:Elagabalus Aureus Sol Invictus.png|thumb|260px|[[Aureus]] of Elagabalus, minted at [[Antioch]]. The reverse commemorates the journey to Rome of the sacred [[Baetylus|black stone]] of [[Homs|Emesus]], which is depicted on the quadriga.<ref>Mattingly & Sydenham, ''Roman Imperial Coinage'', vol. IV, part II, p. 43.</ref>]]
[[File:Perge - Julia Soemias 2.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Julia Soaemias]], mother of Elagabalus]]

Elagabalus was born Varius Avitus Bassianus in 203{{r|ocd|p=212}} and became known later as Marcus Aurelius Antonius{{r|ocd|p=212}}.
The name "Elagabalus" followed the Latin nomenclature for the Syrian sun god [[Elagabal]], of whom he was a priest{{r|icks2013|p=11}}.
At the age of 14, in 218, Elagabalus was crowned emperor by [[Legio III Gallica|Gallic Third Legion]]{{r|icks2013|p=9}}{{r|ocd|p=212}}.

There are two different versions how Elagabalus gained the throne.
In one version of events, Elagabalus's grandmother, [[Julia Maesa]], Julia Domna's sister and sister-in-law of Septimius Severus, persuaded the Legio III Gallica to rebel against Macrinus{{r|ocd|p=212}} by claiming that Elagabalus was actually Caracalla's bastard son with one of her daughters{{r|icks2013|p=11}}.
She also used her enormous wealth to get soldiers swear fealty to Elagabalus{{r|swoman}}.
Having succeeded, Maesa and her family were invited to enter the camp, where Elagabalus was clad in imperial purple and crowned as emperor{{r|icks2013|p=11}}.
Another account of the events tells how Elagabalus was being protected and raised by Gannys, a foster father and lover of his mother, [[Julia Soaemias]]{{r|icks2013|p=11}}.
In this version of events, Gannys dressed young Elagabalus in Caracalla's childhood clothes and smuggled him into the camp at night, where soldiers eventually revolted the next morning{{r|icks2013|p=11}}.
In any case, he did arrive as emperor in Rome by summer 219{{r|icks2013|p=18}}{{r|ocd|p=212}}.

Historical sources treat his reign negatively{{r|icks2013|p=21}}, but many of his failures can not be affirmed.
However, epigraphical and numismatic evidence shows that Elagabalus did replace Jupiter with Elagabal in late 220{{r|icks2013|p=18}}, and he also married a [[Vestal Virgin]] called [[Aquilia Severa]]{{r|ocd|p=212}}.
In addition to these offences to Roman sensibilities, he was also accused of being murderous and bloodthirsty, but executions during his reign appear to be politically motivated instead of being the result of simple bloodlust{{r|icks2013|p=97}}.
Many, if not all, stories about his effeminacy, extravagance, and licentiousness are imaginations of ancient authors{{r|icks2013|p=122}}.

In 221, seeing that her grandson's outrageous behaviour could mean the loss of power, Julia Maesa persuaded or forced Elagabalus to adopt his cousin, [[Severus Alexander]]{{r|ocd|p=212}}, as {{lang|la|caesar}} and his heir{{r|icks2013|p=37}}.
At the same time he was forced divorce Aquilia in order to marry [[Annia Faustina]], a relative of [[Marcus Aurelius]], only to take Aquila back in a few months before the end of 221{{r|ocd|p=212}}.
Elagabalus also tried on several occasions to murder Alexander, which enraged the troops{{r|icks2013|p=40}}{{r|ocd|p=212}}.
In 222 Elagabalus was murdered and his corpse thrown into the sewer{{r|icks2013|p=42}}. The next day his cousin Alexander was hailed emperor by the troops{{r|icks2013|p=41-2}}.