Gordian III

Lived from 225 CE to 244 CE

Gordian III was Roman emperor from 238 to 244. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole Roman emperor. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and Junius Balbus who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known of his early life before his acclamation. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238.

Subject ID: 123569

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Lived from 225 CE to 244 CE

Gordian III was Roman emperor from 238 to 244. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole Roman emperor. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and Junius Balbus who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known of his early life before his acclamation. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238.

When the revolt of Gordian I & II in Northern Africa failed the Senate appointed Pupienus and Balbinus as joint emperors. However, this choice proved to be so unpopular that the Senate sought and found the grandson of Gordian I and named him Caesar so as to give an air of a dynastic lineage. Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered soon after leaving the teenage Gordian III as sole emperor. Gordian III then spent the next several years in relative obscurity participating in various wars. He was killed by agents of his Praetorian Prefect, Philip, who had ambitions to become emperor himself.

 

 

 

 

Subject ID: 123569

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