Roman Emperor. He was born circa AD 203 and was raised at the Imperial court by his great aunt, the Empress Julia Domna. His birth name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, but he is known as Elagabalus because of his devotion to the Syrian sun god of the same name. At age 14, in AD 218, opponents of the Emperor Macrinus proclaimed him the heir to the murdered Caracalla and named him Emperor. He soon had the support of the legions in the East, and spent the following summer removing Macrinus's supporters. He was promoted by his followers as a religious figure capable of bringing peace and prosperity to the Empire and he was shown in contemporary paintings as an Emesene high priest. He also presided over a "marriage of the gods" between Elagabalus and the Carthaginian goddess Tanit. The propaganda campaign failed as his marriage broke down, and he embarked on a series of homosexual relationships. He often gave his lovers political appointments, which offended the aristocracy and army, as did his second marriage, to a vestal virgin. In AD 221, an army revolt forced him to remove many of his favourites from their posts, and also to make a more appropriate marriage. Lacking an heir, he unwillingly adopted his cousin, Alexander Severus, and declared him Caesar. The partnership was a failure, and he attempted to have Alexander killed in AD 222. This provoked his own assassination soon afterwards, he was beheaded and his body was dragged through the streets before being thrown into the Tiber.
Roman Emperor. He was born circa AD 203 and was raised at the Imperial court by his great aunt, the Empress Julia Domna. His birth name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, but he is known as Elagabalus because of his devotion to the Syrian sun god of the same name. At age 14, in AD 218, opponents of the Emperor Macrinus proclaimed him the heir to the murdered Caracalla and named him Emperor. He soon had the support of the legions in the East, and spent the following summer removing Macrinus's supporters. He was promoted by his followers as a religious figure capable of bringing peace and prosperity to the Empire and he was shown in contemporary paintings as an Emesene high priest. He also presided over a "marriage of the gods" between Elagabalus and the Carthaginian goddess Tanit. The propaganda campaign failed as his marriage broke down, and he embarked on a series of homosexual relationships. He often gave his lovers political appointments, which offended the aristocracy and army, as did his second marriage, to a vestal virgin. In AD 221, an army revolt forced him to remove many of his favourites from their posts, and also to make a more appropriate marriage. Lacking an heir, he unwillingly adopted his cousin, Alexander Severus, and declared him Caesar. The partnership was a failure, and he attempted to have Alexander killed in AD 222. This provoked his own assassination soon afterwards, he was beheaded and his body was dragged through the streets before being thrown into the Tiber.
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