ELAGABALVS BASSIANVS
Reigned: 218-222 a.d.
VARIVS AVITVS BASSIANVS, born in late 204 or early 205 to Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus, entered the service of the Emesan sun-god, Elagabal, hence his nickname Elagabalus. His maternal grand-aunt was Julia Domna, Caracalla's mother. When Macrinus became Augustus in 217, Soaemias and her mother Julia Maesa rumored that Elagabalus was the illegitimate son of Caracalla. The soldiers revolted, making him Augustus on May 16, 218. However, his reign was one of the most depraved in Roman history, and he and Soaemias were killed by disgusted Praetorians on March 6, 222.(Excerpt from MONETA, from www.numus.com) |
Provincial Coinage