Roman Emperor Elagabalus
Varius Avitus Bassianus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born simply as Varius Avitus Bassianus) was a Roman Emperor who belonged to the Severan dynasty.
Best known by the name Elagabalus or Helagabalus, his reign over the empire lasted for four years beginning in 218 AD until 222 AD. His name is actually a Latin form of El-Gabal, the name of a Semitic deity who was in turn a manifestation of another Semitic deity, Ä’l.
Elagabalus was born sometime in the year 203 AD to Sextus Varius Marcellus and his wife Julia Soaemias Bassiana. Although his father was originally of the equites class, he later was able to attain the position of senator.
Elagabalus had many other distinguished members in his immediate family; his grandmother Julia Maesa was previously married to the late Consul Julius Avitus. She was also the sister of Julia Domna, and was related by marriage to the Emperor Septimius Severus. His own mother, Julia Soaemias was a close cousin of Emperor Caracalla.
The family of Elagabalus enjoyed a somewhat lofty position in Roamn society being the hereditary priests of the sun god El-Gabal. Elagabalus himself was the appointed high priest in Emesa, Syria in what is now commonly known as Homs.
The entry of Elagabalus into the world of Roman public office and subsequently the emperorship would be unusual to say the least. When, the then new emperor, Macrinus came into power, he was understandably wary of the threat to his authority that was posed by the family of his deceased predecessor, Caracalla.
And rightly so, for it would not be long when the family, in this case, Julia Maesa would hatch a plot to have him overthrown. In fact, Macrinus had just barely exiled the family (which included Julia Maesa's two daughters as well as her eldest grandson Elagabalus) to their home in Emesa, Syria before Julia with the help of her advisor (a eunuch named Gannys, who was the tutor of Elagabalus) set about making plans to overthrow the emperor. In Macrinus' place, Julia Maesa wished to install Elagabalus who was then only fourteen years of age.
To help further their claim to the throne, Julia Maesa needed the support of the many Roman soldiers and senators who were still fiercely devoted to the former emperor, Caracalla.
To this end, she made known in public that Elagabalus was in fact the illegitimate son of Caracalla, a claim that was in fact false. Nevertheless, the ruse worked and the soldiers and senators who had previously backed Caracalla now threw their support behind Elagabalus. Julia Maesa also sought to woo the support of the legions at Raphana and after a public display, in which she showed them the extent of her wealth, they too swore allegiance to the new emperor.
The legion commander, P. Valerius Comazon Eutychianus, finally declared Elagabalus emperor on May 16th, 218 AD. Macrinus was naturally hesitant to give up the throne so easily and was driven to defend his cause. His power was lessened however by the desertion of most of his soldiers and he was later captured and executed.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 14/05/2008
