Gordian II: Difference between revisions

Names
	Marcus Antonius Gordianus
Regnal name
	Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus Augustus

Gordian II
Gordian II
	Sestertius featuring Gordian II. The inscription reads imp caes m ant gordianvs afr avg.
Roman emperor
Reign	c. March – April 238
Predecessor	Maximinus Thrax
Successor	Pupienus and Balbinus
Co-emperor	Gordian I
Born	c. 192
Died	April 238 (aged c. 46); Carthage, Africa Proconsularis
Names
Names
	Marcus Antonius Gordianus
Regnal name
	Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus Augustus
Dynasty	Gordian
Father	Gordian I
Mother	Unknown, possibly Fabia Orestilla.

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Gordian II (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus; c. 192 – April 238) was Roman emperor with his father Gordian I in 238 AD, the Year of the Six Emperors. Seeking to overthrow Maximinus Thrax, he died in battle outside Carthage. Since he died before his father, Gordian II had the 2nd shortest reign of any Roman emperor, at about 22 days.^[5]

Early life

Born c. 192, Gordian II was the only known son of Gordian I, who was said to be related to prominent senators.^[6] His praenomen and nomen Marcus Antonius suggest that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under the triumvir Mark Antony, or one of his daughters, during the late Roman Republic.^[6] Gordian's cognomen "Gordianus" suggests that his family origins were from Anatolia, especially Galatia and Cappadocia.^[7]

According to the notoriously unreliable Historia Augusta, his mother was a Roman woman called Fabia Orestilla,^[4] born circa 165, who the Historia claims was a descendant of emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius through her father Fulvus Antoninus.^[4] Modern historians have dismissed this name and her information as false.^[8] There is some evidence to suggest that Gordian's mother might have been the granddaughter of the Greek Sophist, consul and tutor Herodes Atticus.^[9] His younger sister was Antonia Gordiana, who was the mother of Emperor Gordian III.

Although the memory of the Gordians would have been cherished by the Senate and thus appear sympathetic in any senatorial documentation of the period, the only account of Gordian's early career that has survived is contained within the Historia Augusta, and it cannot be taken as an accurate or reliable description of his life story prior to his elevation to the purple in 238.^[10] According to this source, Gordian served as quaestor in Elagabalus' reign^[11] and as praetor and consul suffect with Emperor Severus Alexander.^[12]^[13] In 237 or 238, Gordian went to the province of Africa Proconsularis as a legatus under his father, who served as proconsular governor.^[14]

Revolt against Maximinus Thrax

Early in 235, Emperor Alexander Severus and his mother Julia Avita Mamaea were assassinated by mutinous troops at Moguntiacum (now Mainz) in Germania Inferior.^[15] The leader of the rebellion, Maximinus Thrax, became Emperor, despite his low-born background and the disapproval of the Roman Senate.^[16] Confronted by a local elite that had just killed Maximinus's procurator,^[17] Gordian's father was forced to participate in a full-scale revolt against Maximinus in 238, probably at the end of March.^[9] Due to Gordian I's advanced age, the younger Gordian, said to be 46 years old,^[18] was attached to the imperial throne and acclaimed augustus too. Like his father, he too was awarded the cognomen "Africanus".^[9]

Father and son saw their claim to the throne ratified both by the Senate^[19] and most of the other provinces, due to Maximinus' unpopularity.^[20]

Opposition would come from the neighbouring province of Numidia.^[20] Capelianus, governor of Numidia, a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax, and who held a grudge against Gordian,^[20] renewed his allegiance to the reigning emperor^[17] and invaded Africa (province) with the only legion stationed in the region, III Augusta, and other veteran units.^[21] Gordian II, at the head of a militia army of untrained soldiers, lost the Battle of Carthage and was killed.^[9] According to the Historia Augusta, his body was never recovered.^[22] Hearing the news, his father killed himself.^[9] The Gordians ruled only 22 days.^[23]^[24]^[25] This first rebellion against Maximinus Thrax was unsuccessful, but by the end of 238 Gordian II's nephew, Gordian III, would be recognised as emperor by the whole Roman world.^[26]

According to Edward Gibbon, in the first volume of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–89), "Twenty-two acknowledged concubines, and a library of sixty-two thousand volumes, attested to the variety of [Gordian's] inclinations; and from the productions that he left behind him, it appears that the former as well as the latter were designed for use rather than ostentation."^[27]

Family tree

previous
Maximinus Thrax
Roman Emperor
235–238

Pupienus
Roman Emperor
238

Gordian I
Roman Emperor
238
∞ (?) Fabia Orestilla

Balbinus
Roman Emperor
238

Gordian II
co-emperor
238

Antonia Gordiana

(doubted)
Junius Licinius Balbus
consul suffectus

Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus
praetorian prefect

next
Philip the Arab
Roman Emperor
244–249

Gordian III
Roman Emperor
238-244

Furia Sabinia Tranquillina

Philip II
Roman Emperor
co-emperor
247–249

References

^ The exact chronology of events is unknown. See: Rea, J. (1972). "O. Leid. 144 and the Chronology of A.D. 238". ZPE 9, 1-19.
^ Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.
^ Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.
^ ^a ^b ^c Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4
^ Possibly second only to Quintillus, who, according to some sources, reigned for just 17 days. However, sources of his reign are contradictory, and Quintillus more likely ruled at least one month. Syvänne, Ilkka (2020). Aurelian and Probus. Pen and Sword. p. 65. ISBN 9781526767530.
^ ^a ^b Birley 2005, p. 340.
^ Peuch, Bernadette, "Orateurs et sophistes grecs dans les inscriptions d'époque impériale", (2002), pg. 128
^ Syme 1971, pp. 100–101.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Meckler 2001.
^ Syme 1971, pp. 1–16.
^ Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 18:4
^ Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 18:5
^ Birley 2005, p. 341. An inscription confirming this fact has been found at Caesarea in Palestine..
^ Barnes, Timothy D. (September 1968). "Philostratus and Gordian". Latomus. 27: 587, 590.
^ Potter 2004, p. 167.
^ Southern, p. 83.
^ ^a ^b Southern, p. 86.
^ Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 15:2
^ Herodian, 7:7:2
^ ^a ^b ^c Potter 2004, p. 170.
^ Herodian, 7:9:3
^ Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 16:1
^ Filocalus, Chronograph of 354, Part 16: "The two Gordians ruled for 20 days. They died in Africa."
^ Laterculus Imperatorum Malalianus (7th century): "Gordian ruled 22 days."
^ Zonaras (c. 1120) Epitome xvii.17: "According to some they reigned about twenty-two days, but according to others not quite three months". He confuses the Gordians with Balbinus and Pupienus.
^ Southern, p. 87.
^ Quoted in "From the Editor. Ambition, Style and Sacrifices", History Today, June 2017, p. 3.

Sources

Primary sources

Secondary sources

Birley, Anthony (2005). The Roman Government in Britain. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-925237-4.
Gibbon, Edward (1888). The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Meckler, David Stone (2001). "Gordian II (238 A.D.)". De Imperatoribus Romanis.
Potter, David Stone (2004). The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180–395. Routledge.
Southern, Pat (2015) [2001]. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-73807-1.
Syme, Ronald (1971). Emperors and Biography. Oxford University Press.

External links

Gordian II coinage

Regnal titles
Preceded by Maximinus Thrax	Roman emperor 238 With: Gordian I	Succeeded by Pupienus Balbinus

[Rea-1] The exact chronology of events is unknown. See: Rea, J. (1972). "O. Leid. 144 and the Chronology of A.D. 238". ZPE 9, 1-19.

[2] Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.

[3] Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.

[Historia_Augusta,_The_Three_Gordians,_17:4-4] Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4

[5] Possibly second only to Quintillus, who, according to some sources, reigned for just 17 days. However, sources of his reign are contradictory, and Quintillus more likely ruled at least one month. Syvänne, Ilkka (2020). Aurelian and Probus. Pen and Sword. p. 65. ISBN 9781526767530.

[FOOTNOTEBirley2005340-6] Birley 2005, p. 340.

[7] Peuch, Bernadette, "Orateurs et sophistes grecs dans les inscriptions d'époque impériale", (2002), pg. 128

[FOOTNOTESyme1971100–101-8] Syme 1971, pp. 100–101.

[FOOTNOTEMeckler2001-9] Meckler 2001.

[FOOTNOTESyme19711–16-10] Syme 1971, pp. 1–16.

[11] Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 18:4

[12] Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 18:5

[FOOTNOTEBirley2005341._An_inscription_confirming_this_fact_has_been_found_at_[[Caesarea_Maritima|Caesarea]]_in_[[Palestine_(region)|Palestine]].-13] Birley 2005, p. 341. An inscription confirming this fact has been found at Caesarea in Palestine..

[14] Barnes, Timothy D. (September 1968). "Philostratus and Gordian". Latomus. 27: 587, 590.

[FOOTNOTEPotter2004167-15] Potter 2004, p. 167.

[FOOTNOTESouthern83-16] Southern, p. 83.

[FOOTNOTESouthern86-17] Southern, p. 86.

[18] Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 15:2

[19] Herodian, 7:7:2

[FOOTNOTEPotter2004170-20] Potter 2004, p. 170.

[21] Herodian, 7:9:3

[22] Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 16:1

[23] Filocalus, Chronograph of 354, Part 16: "The two Gordians ruled for 20 days. They died in Africa."

[24] Laterculus Imperatorum Malalianus (7th century): "Gordian ruled 22 days."

[25] Zonaras (c. 1120) Epitome xvii.17: "According to some they reigned about twenty-two days, but according to others not quite three months". He confuses the Gordians with Balbinus and Pupienus.

[FOOTNOTESouthern87-26] Southern, p. 87.

[27] Quoted in "From the Editor. Ambition, Style and Sacrifices", History Today, June 2017, p. 3.

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
 {{Infobox royalty
-| image        = GordianusIIsest.jpg
+| image        = File:Gordiano II - ritratto da sesterzio.jpg
 | image_size   = 250px
 | alt          = Grey coin depicting Gordian II
-| caption      = [[Denarius]] featuring Gordian II. The inscription reads {{Smallcaps|{{Abbreviation|imp|IMPERATOR}} {{Abbreviation|m|MARCUS}} {{Abbreviation|ant|ANTONIUS}} gordianvs {{Abbreviation|afr|AFRICANUS}} {{Abbreviation|avg|AUGUSTUS}}}}.
+| caption      = [[Sestertius]] featuring Gordian II. The inscription reads {{Smallcaps|{{Abbreviation|imp|IMPERATOR}} {{Abbreviation|caes|CAESAR}} {{Abbreviation|m|MARCUS}} {{Abbreviation|ant|ANTONIUS}} gordianvs {{Abbreviation|afr|AFRICANUS}} {{Abbreviation|avg|AUGUSTUS}}}}.
 | succession   = [[Roman emperor]]
+| reign        = {{circa}} March – April 238<ref name=Rea>The exact chronology of events is unknown. See: Rea, J. (1972). "[http://www.jstor.org/stable/20180380 O. Leid. 144 and the Chronology of A.D. 238]". ''[[Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik|ZPE]]'' '''9''', 1-19.</ref>
-| reign        = 22 March – 12 April 238
 | predecessor  = [[Maximinus Thrax]]
 | successor    = [[Pupienus]] and [[Balbinus]]
 | regent       = [[Gordian I]]
 | reg-type     = {{nowrap|Co-emperor}}
-| birth_date   = c. 192
+| birth_date   = {{circa}} 192
 | birth_place  =
-| death_date   = 12 April 238 (aged 45)
+| death_date   = April 238 (aged {{circa}} 46)
 | death_place  = [[Battle of Carthage (238)|Carthage]], [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa Proconsularis]]
 | burial_place =
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 | dynasty      = [[Gordian dynasty|Gordian]]
 | father       = [[Gordian I]]
-| mother       = Unknown, possibly [[Fabia Orestilla]]<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4">Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 17:4</ref>
+| mother       = Unknown, possibly Fabia Orestilla.<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4">Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 17:4</ref>
 }}
 {{Year of Six Emperors}}
-'''Gordian II''' ({{lang-la|Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus}};<ref>In [[Classical Latin]], Gordian's name would be inscribed as MARCVS ANTONIVS GORDIANVS SEMPRONIANVS ROMANVS AFRICANVS AVGVSTVS.</ref> c. 192 – 12 April 238) was [[Roman emperor]] for 21 days with his father [[Gordian I]] in 238, the [[Year of the Six Emperors]]. Seeking to overthrow Emperor [[Maximinus Thrax]], he died in battle outside [[Carthage]]. Since he died before his father, Gordian II had the shortest reign of any Roman emperor in the whole of the Empire's history, at 21 days.
+'''Gordian II''' ({{langx|la|Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus}}; {{circa}} 192 – April 238) was [[Roman emperor]] with his father [[Gordian I]] in 238 AD, the [[Year of the Six Emperors]]. Seeking to overthrow [[Maximinus Thrax]], he died in battle outside [[Carthage]]. Since he died before his father, Gordian II had [[List of shortest-reigning monarchs|the 2nd shortest reign of any Roman emperor]], at about 22 days.<ref>Possibly second only to [[Quintillus]], who, according to some sources, reigned for just 17 days. However, sources of his reign are contradictory, and Quintillus more likely ruled at least one month. {{Cite book|last=Syvänne|first=Ilkka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8nD1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|title=Aurelian and Probus|publisher=[[Pen and Sword]]|year=2020|isbn=9781526767530|pages=65}}</ref>
 ==Early life==
-Born c. 192, Gordian II was the only known son of [[Gordian I|Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus the Elder]]. His family were of [[Equestrian order|Equestrian]] rank, who were modest and very wealthy.{{cn|date=August 2018}} Gordian was said to be related to prominent senators.<ref name="Birley, pg. 340">Birley, pg. 340</ref> His praenomen and nomen ''Marcus Antonius'' suggest that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under the Triumvir [[Mark Antony]], or one of his daughters, during the late [[Roman Republic]].<ref name="Birley, pg. 340">Birley, pg. 340</ref>  Gordian’s cognomen ‘Gordianus’ suggests that his family origins were from [[Anatolia]], especially [[Galatia]] and [[Cappadocia]].<ref>Peuch, Bernadette, "Orateurs et sophistes grecs dans les inscriptions d'époque impériale", (2002), pg. 128</ref>
+Born {{circa}} 192, Gordian II was the only known son of [[Gordian I]], who was said to be related to prominent senators.{{sfn|Birley|2005|p=340}} His praenomen and nomen ''Marcus Antonius'' suggest that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under the triumvir [[Mark Antony]], or one of his daughters, during the late [[Roman Republic]].{{sfn|Birley|2005|p=340}}  Gordian's cognomen "Gordianus" suggests that his family origins were from [[Anatolia]], especially [[Galatia]] and [[Cappadocia]].<ref>Peuch, Bernadette, "Orateurs et sophistes grecs dans les inscriptions d'époque impériale", (2002), pg. 128</ref>
-According to the notoriously unreliable [[Historia Augusta]], his mother was a Roman woman called [[Fabia Orestilla]],<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4"/> born circa 165, who the Augustan History claims was a descendant of Emperors [[Antoninus Pius]] and [[Marcus Aurelius]] through her father Fulvus Antoninus.<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4"/> Modern historians have dismissed this name and her information as false.<ref>Syme, pp.100–101</ref> There is some evidence to suggest that Gordian's mother might have been the granddaughter of the Greek Sophist, consul and tutor [[Herodes Atticus]].<ref name="Meckler, Gordian II">Meckler, ''Gordian II''</ref> His younger sister was [[Antonia Gordiana]], who was the mother of Emperor [[Gordian III]].
+According to the notoriously unreliable ''[[Historia Augusta]]'', his mother was a Roman woman called [[Fabia Orestilla]],<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4"/> born circa 165, who the ''Historia'' claims was a descendant of emperors [[Antoninus Pius]] and [[Marcus Aurelius]] through her father Fulvus Antoninus.<ref name="Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4"/> Modern historians have dismissed this name and her information as false.{{sfn|Syme|1971|pp=100–101}} There is some evidence to suggest that Gordian's mother might have been the granddaughter of the Greek Sophist, consul and tutor [[Herodes Atticus]].{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} His younger sister was [[Antonia Gordiana]], who was the mother of Emperor [[Gordian III]].
-Although the memory of the Gordians would have been cherished by the Senate and thus appear sympathetic in any Senatorial documentation of the period, the only account of Gordian's early career that has survived is contained within the Historia Augusta, and it cannot be taken as an accurate or reliable description of his life story prior to his elevation to the purple in 238.<ref>Syme, pp. 1–16</ref> According to this source, Gordian served as [[quaestor]] in [[Elagabalus]]' reign<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 18:4</ref> and as [[praetor]] and [[consul|consul suffect]] with Emperor [[Alexander Severus]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 18:5</ref><ref>Birley, pg. 341. An inscription confirming this fact has been found at [[Caesarea]] in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].</ref> In 237 or 238, Gordian went to the province of [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa Proconsularis]] as a [[legatus]] under his father, who served as [[proconsul]]ar governor.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barnes|first=Timothy D.|date=September 1968|title=Philostratus and Gordian|journal=Latomus|volume=27|pages=587, 590}}</ref>
+Although the memory of the Gordians would have been cherished by the Senate and thus appear sympathetic in any senatorial documentation of the period, the only account of Gordian's early career that has survived is contained within the ''Historia Augusta'', and it cannot be taken as an accurate or reliable description of his life story prior to his elevation to the purple in 238.{{sfn|Syme|1971|pp=1–16}} According to this source, Gordian served as [[quaestor]] in [[Elagabalus]]' reign<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 18:4</ref> and as [[praetor]] and [[consul|consul suffect]] with Emperor [[Severus Alexander]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 18:5</ref>{{sfn|Birley|2005|p=341. An inscription confirming this fact has been found at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].}} In 237 or 238, Gordian went to the province of [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa Proconsularis]] as a [[legatus]] under his father, who served as [[proconsul]]ar governor.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barnes|first=Timothy D.|date=September 1968|title=Philostratus and Gordian|journal=Latomus|volume=27|pages=587, 590}}</ref>
-[[Image:Sestertius Gordian II-RIC 0008.jpg|300px|thumb|Gordian II on a coin, celebrating his military prowess. IMP. CAES. M. ANT. GORDIANVS AFR. AVG. / VIRTVS AVG. S C.]]
 ==Revolt against Maximinus Thrax==
-Early in 235, Emperor Alexander Severus and his mother [[Julia Avita Mamaea]] were assassinated by mutinous troops at [[Mainz|Moguntiacum]] (now Mainz) in [[Germania Inferior]].<ref>Potter, pg. 167</ref> The leader of the rebellion, [[Maximinus Thrax]], became Emperor, despite his low-born background and the disapproval of the [[Roman Senate]].{{sfn|Southern|p=83}} Confronted by a local elite that had just killed Maximinus's [[procurator (Roman)|procurator]],{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} Gordian's father was forced to participate in a full-scale revolt against Maximinus in 238 and became [[Augustus (honorific)|Augustus]] on 22 March.<ref name="Meckler, Gordian II">Meckler, ''Gordian II''</ref> Due to Gordian I's advanced age, the younger Gordian was attached to the imperial throne and acclaimed Augustus too.<ref>Adkins and Adkins, p. 27</ref>  Like his father, he too was awarded the ''[[Roman naming conventions|cognomen]]'' '''Africanus'''.<ref name="Meckler, Gordian II">Meckler, ''Gordian II''</ref>
+Early in 235, Emperor Alexander Severus and his mother [[Julia Avita Mamaea]] were assassinated by mutinous troops at [[Mainz|Moguntiacum]] (now Mainz) in [[Germania Inferior]].{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=167}} The leader of the rebellion, [[Maximinus Thrax]], became Emperor, despite his low-born background and the disapproval of the [[Roman Senate]].{{sfn|Southern|p=83}} Confronted by a local elite that had just killed Maximinus's [[procurator (Roman)|procurator]],{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} Gordian's father was forced to participate in a full-scale revolt against Maximinus in 238, probably at the end of March.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} Due to Gordian I's advanced age, the younger Gordian, said to be 46 years old,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 15:2</ref> was attached to the imperial throne and acclaimed ''[[Augustus (title)|augustus]]'' too. Like his father, he too was awarded the ''[[Roman naming conventions|cognomen]]'' "Africanus".{{sfn|Meckler|2001}}
-Father and son saw their claim to the throne ratified both by the Senate<ref>Herodian, 7:7:2</ref> and most of the other provinces, due to Maximinus' unpopularity.<ref name="Potter, pg. 170">Potter, pg. 170</ref>
+Father and son saw their claim to the throne ratified both by the Senate<ref>[[Herodian]], 7:7:2</ref> and most of the other provinces, due to Maximinus' unpopularity.{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}}
-Opposition would come from the neighbouring province of [[Numidia]].<ref name="Potter, pg. 170">Potter, pg. 170</ref> [[Capelianus]], governor of Numidia, a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax, and who held a grudge against Gordian,<ref name="Potter, pg. 170">Potter, pg. 170</ref> renewed his allegiance to the reigning emperor{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} and invaded Africa province with the only legion stationed in the region, [[Legio III Augusta|III ''Augusta'']], and other veteran units.<ref>Herodian, 7:9:3</ref> Gordian II, at the head of a militia army of untrained soldiers, lost the [[Battle of Carthage (238)|Battle of Carthage]] and was killed.<ref name="Meckler, Gordian II">Meckler, ''Gordian II''</ref> According to the ''Historia Augusta'', his body was never recovered.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 16:1</ref> Hearing the news, his father took his own life.<ref name="Meckler, Gordian II">Meckler, ''Gordian II''</ref> This first rebellion against Maximinus Thrax was unsuccessful, but by the end of 238 Gordian II's nephew would be recognised emperor by the whole Roman world as [[Gordian III]].{{sfn|Southern|p=87}}
+Opposition would come from the neighbouring province of [[Numidia]].{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}} [[Capelianus]], governor of Numidia, a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax, and who held a grudge against Gordian,{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=170}} renewed his allegiance to the reigning emperor{{sfn|Southern|p=86}} and invaded [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa (province)]] with the only legion stationed in the region, [[Legio III Augusta|III ''Augusta'']], and other veteran units.<ref>[[Herodian]], 7:9:3</ref> Gordian II, at the head of a militia army of untrained soldiers, lost the [[Battle of Carthage (238)|Battle of Carthage]] and was killed.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} According to the ''Historia Augusta'', his body was never recovered.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''The Three Gordians'', 16:1</ref> Hearing the news, his father killed himself.{{sfn|Meckler|2001}} The Gordians ruled only 22 days.<ref>[[Filocalus]], ''[[Chronograph of 354]]'', [https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chronography_of_354_16_chronicle_of_the_city_of_rome.htm Part 16]: "The two Gordians ruled for 20 days. They died in Africa."</ref><ref>''[[Laterculus]] [[iarchive:chronicaminorasa00momm/page/436/mode/1up|Imperatorum Malalianus]]'' (7th century): "Gordian ruled 22 days."</ref><ref>[[Zonaras]] ({{Circa}} 1120) ''[[Epitome]]'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=lXGCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT42 xvii.17]: "According to some they reigned about twenty-two days, but according to others not quite three months". He confuses the Gordians with [[Balbinus]] and [[Pupienus]].</ref> This first rebellion against Maximinus Thrax was unsuccessful, but by the end of 238 Gordian II's nephew, [[Gordian III]], would be recognised as emperor by the whole Roman world.{{sfn|Southern|p=87}}
 According to [[Edward Gibbon]], in the first volume of ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'' (1776–89), "Twenty-two acknowledged concubines, and a library of sixty-two thousand volumes, attested to the variety of [Gordian's] inclinations; and from the productions that he left behind him, it appears that the former as well as the latter were designed for use rather than ostentation."<ref>Quoted in "From the Editor. Ambition, Style and Sacrifices", ''[[History Today]]'', June 2017, p. 3.</ref>
 ==Family tree==
+{{Gordian dynasty family tree}}
-{{tree chart/start}}
-{{tree chart| Max | | Pup | | Go1 |Max=previous<br>[[Maximinus Thrax]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>235–238|Go1=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>[[Gordian I]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238<br><small>∞ (?) Fabia Orestilla</small>|Pup=[[Pupienus]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238}}
-{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|.}}
-{{tree chart| | | | | Bal | | Go2 | | Ant |~| JLB | | GFS | | Phi |Go2=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>Gordian II<br>co-emperor<br>238|Ant=[[Antonia Gordiana]]|JLB=''(doubted)''<br>[[Junius Licinius Balbus]]<br>consul suffectus|GFS=[[Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus]]<br>praetorian prefect|Phi=next<br>[[Philip the Arab]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>244–249|Bal=[[Balbinus]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238}}
-{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | |!| }}
-{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Go3 |~| Tra | | Ph2 |Go3=[[File:Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|20px]]<br>[[Gordian III]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>238|Tra=Furia Sabinia [[Tranquillina]]|Ph2=[[Philip II (Roman Emperor)|Philip II]]<br>Roman Emperor<br>co-emperor<br>247–249}}
-{{tree chart/end}}
 ==See also==
 *[[Villa Gordiani]]
+== References ==
+{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}
 ==Sources==
@@ Line 61: / Line 57: @@
 * [[Herodian]], [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/herodian-s-roman-history/ ''Roman History, Book 7'']
 * [[Historia Augusta]], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Gordiani_tres*.html ''The Three Gordians'']
-* [[Joannes Zonaras]], Compendium of History [https://web.archive.org/web/20080521191250/http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Post/1049415 extract: ''Zonaras: Alexander Severus to Diocletian: 222–284'']
+* [[Joannes Zonaras]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080521191250/http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Post/1049415 ''Compendium of History'']
 * [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]], [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/zosimus01_book1.htm ''Historia Nova'']
 ===Secondary sources===
-* {{cite book |last1= Adkins |first1= Lesley |last2= Adkins |first2= Roy A. |year= 2004 |orig-year= 1994 |title= Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome: Updated Edition |location= New York |publisher= Facts on File |isbn= 0-8160-5026-0 }}
+* {{cite book | last = Birley | first = Anthony | title =The Roman Government in Britain| publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 978-0-19-925237-4}}
+* [[Gibbon, Edward]] (1888). ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]''
-* {{citation | last = Birley | first = Anthony | title =The Roman Government in Britain| publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2005 | isbn = 978-0-19-925237-4}}
+* {{cite web|last1=Meckler|first1=David Stone|title=Gordian II (238 A.D.)|date=2001|website=[[De Imperatoribus Romanis]]|url=http://www.roman-emperors.org/gordo2.htm}}
-* Gibbon, Edward, ''Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire'' (1888)
+* {{cite book| last = Potter| first = David Stone| title =The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180–395| publisher = Routledge| year = 2004}}
-* Meckler, Michael L., ''Gordian II (238 A.D.)'', [http://www.roman-emperors.org/gordo2.htm''De Imperatoribus Romanis''] (2001)
-* Potter, David Stone, ''The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180–395'', Routledge, 2004
 * {{cite book |last=Southern |year=2015 |first=Pat |title=The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |place=London |orig-year=2001 |isbn=978-0-415-73807-1 |url={{googlebooks|2p9hCQAAQBAJ|plainurl=y}} |author-link=Pat Southern |ref={{sfnref|Southern}} }}
-* Syme, Ronald, ''Emperors and Biography'', Oxford University Press, 1971
+* {{cite book| last = Syme| first = Ronald| title =Emperors and Biography| publisher = Oxford University Press| year = 1971}}
-== References ==
-{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 90: / Line 82: @@
 {{Roman Emperors}}
+{{Pharaohs}}
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gordian 02}}
-[[Category:192 births]]
+[[Category:190s births]]
 [[Category:238 deaths]]
 [[Category:3rd-century Roman emperors]]

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