Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, c. 204 – 11/12 March 222), better known by his nicknames “Elagabalus“

Elagalabus, also known as Elagabalus, was a Roman emperor who reigned from 218 to 222 AD. His birth name was Varius Avitus Bassianus, and he was born in 203 AD in Emesa, which is modern-day Syria. Elagabalus was a member of the Severan dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire from 193 to 235 AD.

Elagabalus became emperor at the age of 14 after the assassination of his cousin, Emperor Caracalla. During his brief reign, Elagabalus was known for his controversial and eccentric behavior. He introduced the worship of the Syrian sun god Elagabal (or Elagabalus) into the Roman pantheon and even attempted to replace Jupiter, the supreme Roman deity, with Elagabal. Elagabalus himself served as the high priest of the cult and conducted elaborate religious rituals.

Elagabalus’s behavior was considered scandalous by Roman standards. He married and divorced multiple times, including marriages to both men and women. He openly displayed his infatuation with his charioteer, a slave named Hierocles, and even wanted to make him his consort.

The emperor also engaged in lavish and excessive spending, which strained the Roman treasury. He threw extravagant parties and wasted money on luxury goods. Elagabalus was also criticized for appointing unfit individuals to important political positions, leading to political instability and unrest.

The controversial actions and policies of Elagabalus eventually led to his downfall. In 222 AD, a military revolt broke out, and he was assassinated at the age of 18. Following his death, Elagabalus was succeeded by his cousin Alexander Severus.

Elagabalus’s reign is often viewed as one of the most chaotic and scandalous periods in Roman history. His actions and lifestyle were widely condemned by contemporary Roman elites and later historians. Despite his short and tumultuous reign, Elagabalus left a lasting impact on Roman history, particularly in relation to religious practices and cultural integration.

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