Gordian III

Marcus Antonius Gordianus (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus; 20 January 225 - February 244), known as Gordian III, Roman Emperor from 238 to 244.

Gordian III was born as the son of Antonia Gordiana, daughter of Gordian I and sister of Gordian II. His father's name has not been handed down, as was her own before she took his grandfather's name in 238.

Biography

Family origins

His family was of equestrian rank, modest, but very wealthy, though Gordianus was associated with prominent senators. His praenomen and nomen, Mark Antony, suggest that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under the triumvir Mark Antony, or one of his daughters, during the time end of the late Roman Republic. The cognomen Gordian suggests that the origins of his family were located in Anatolia, related to the story of the Gordian knot , especially Galatia and Cappadocia.

Ascent

Gordian coin III.

Maximinus the Thracian, Roman emperor after the assassination of Alexander Severus was very unpopular in many circles of Roman society. This led to a revolt in North Africa. The rebels proclaimed Gordian I as emperor and obtained recognition of him by the Senate. Maximino was declared a public enemy. However, Gordian I and his son Gordian II fell in battle against the troops of the Numidian governor, Capelian, who had remained faithful to Maximinus.

Meanwhile, Maximinus began his march on Rome. In his defense, the Senate proclaimed two new emperors, Balbino and Pupienus. These were very unpopular in the citizenship of Rome and they were forced to adopt Gordian III as successor since his grandfather and uncle respectively still enjoyed a very good reputation.

After the reign of only ninety-nine days of the two emperors, which ended with the murder of both by the Praetorians, Gordian III was proclaimed emperor at the age of only 13 on July 29, 238.

Gordian III. Regional Archaeological Museum of Palermo, Italy.

Reign

Gordian almost immediately proclaimed his tutor and mentor Timesteus, praetorian prefect and he also took care of a good part of the government of the state. In 241 Gordianus married Furia Sabina Tranquilina, daughter of Timesteus.

At this time Germanic attacks on the Rhine and Danube borders began almost simultaneously, and the Persians under Shapur I invaded Mesopotamia beyond the borders of the Euphrates River. Gordianus opened the doors of the temple of Janus for the last time in history and set out for the Near East with his army.

He won a victory over the Persians at the Battle of Resaena (243), who were driven back across the Euphrates. When he was planning the military campaign in enemy territory together with Timesteus, his mother-in-law died in obscure circumstances.

Death

In this situation, Gordian entrusted the leadership of the Praetorians to Marcus Julius Philip, Philip the Arab, and continued with the expedition. In early 244 the Persians began their counterattack and in their chronicles they mention a great victory at Misiche, near present-day Fallujah (Iraq) in the course of which they claim to have killed Gordian III. However, Roman sources do not mention this battle, placing Gordianus further up the river and suggest that he was assassinated by Philip, who for his part aspired to the throne and thus managed to be proclaimed emperor.

After his death, Gordianus was deified by the senate with the opposition of the new emperor. He probably gave in to avoid popular revolts due to the death of his popular predecessor.