Gordian III

Origin

The future emperor Marc Anthony Gordian was born in Rome on January 20, 225 ^[3] . According to another version, Gordian III was born in 226 ^[4] . The question of who were his parents remains highly controversial. According to the History of Augustus , his parents were the daughter of Gordian I Metzia Faustina and Senator Junius Balb ^[5] . However, at the same time, the writer himself writes that perhaps the father is Gordian II , the son of Gordian I.

Modern historians have accepted the version that the mother of Gordian III was the daughter of Gordian I, and the father was the Roman senator, whose name is unknown (the above names taken from the History of Augustus are considered fictitious) ^{[3] [2]} . Pseudo-Aurelius Victor, speaking of Gordian’s father, applies the term “clarissimo” to him, which means “noble” in translation ^[6] . Apparently, the father of Gordian III died before the start of the African uprising in 238, during which his son was proclaimed emperor ^[3] .

Appearance and personal qualities

The only source that gives the most complete description of the personal qualities and appearance of Emperor Gordian III is the collection of imperial biographies " History of Augustus ":

“Gordian was a cheerful, handsome, courteous young man - everyone liked him, was pleasant in his life, distinguished for his education - in a word, he possessed all the information, except for his age, to be emperor <...> he was loved like no other sovereign, and the people, and the Senate and the soldiers ^[7] . "

The bust, located in the National Museum in Rome, depicts Gordian as a young man with an oblong head, large eyes, full lips and a deep dimple on his chin ^[8] .

Climbing the throne

In 235, after the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus in Mogontziac, the capital of the province of Lower Germany , Maximin Frakietz was proclaimed emperor, despite strong opposition from the Senate and hostility of the population. In 238, when Maksimin was in Pannonia and campaigned against the Danube peoples ^[3] , an uprising of the local population broke out in the province of Africa , dissatisfied with the princeps tax policy, as a result of which Gordian I and Gordian II (respectively, grandfather and uncle Gordian III ), which were recognized by the Senate, and young Gordian was promised consulate and the title of Caesar ^[9] , while Maximin and his son were declared "enemies of the people" ^[10] . However, Rome was a loyal supporter of Maximinus, the prefect of the Praetorium Vitalian, who could counteract what was happening. Nevertheless, the thirteen-year-old grandson of Gordian I never faced the difficulties of his position due to the rebellion of his grandfather, because Vitalian was killed by agents sent to Rome by Gordian I at the beginning of the rebellion ^[3] .

The rebellion in Africa was soon crushed by the III August Legion, led by the Numidian governor Capellian. After they found out about it in Rome (apparently, towards the end of April 238), a group of twenty consular senators, previously organized in the committee for the defense of Italy from Maximin, was assembled, and two new emperors were elected from among them at once - Pupiena and Balbin ^[3] . The new emperors were to continue to lead the rebellion against Maximinus. However, some senators, dissatisfied with this choice, immediately aroused their clients and their families in order to prevent Pupien and Balbin from publicly taking office. In addition, Pupien was not popular when he was the city ​​prefect of Rome, and many ordinary Romans were not averse to taking part in speeches against his accession to the throne ^[3] . Dissatisfied demanded that the imperial power henceforth belong to the Gordian family. Then someone remembered that Gordian I had a grandson. In order to reassure the rebels (as well as gain access to the wealth of the Gordians), several people were sent for the grandson of Gordian I, on the orders of Balbin and Pupien. Finding the boy playing at home, the envoys lifted him on his shoulders and carried him to the crowd, indicating that this was the grandson of Gordian I ^[11] . The boy was given the name of his grandfather - Mark Anthony Gordian, and the Senate proclaimed him Caesar , the leader of youth, as well as the heir to two co-emperors ^{[3] [2]} .

After the death of Maximin during the siege of Aquileia, possibly in early June 238, conflicts between the two emperors, as well as between them and the legionnaires with ordinary Romans came to the fore ^[3] . In mid-summer, Praetorian guard soldiers, dissatisfied with Pupien’s appearance of a personal guard recruited from the Germans , attacked the imperial palace during the closing ceremony of the Capitol Games, captured and killed the Senate emperors, and proclaimed young Gordian the sole ruler ^{[3] [12]} .

Board

Beginning of the reign (238-242 years)

Relatively few details are known about the five-year reign of Emperor Gordian III. His domestic and foreign policies were a continuation of the policies of the Northern Dynasty ^[3] . The security of imperial borders continued to be the most pressing issue ^[3] .

The first year of the reign of Gordian III is poorly covered in the sources. Pupien and Balbin were betrayed by the curse of memory ^[3] . It is difficult to find out how the ascension of the new emperor to the throne influenced the senatorial estate (if there was such an influence): whether someone was removed from his post or vice versa supported the new princeps ^[3] . Apparently, the families that enjoyed authority under the Severs (and some even under the Antonins) continued to control important government posts in the administration of the young emperor ^[3] .

At first, the government of Gordian III remained under the control of the Senate. However, the Senate was forced to take every action with caution, since he had to reckon with the opinions of soldiers who considered Gordian their protégé ^[2] . In any case, the administration of the young emperor risked disbanding the August 3rd Legion , which participated in suppressing the uprising of his grandfather and uncle ^[13] . The memory of the first two Gordians was revered with such zeal that their young relative adopted the title “Pius” ( lat. Pius - “devout”), which has since been constantly appearing on all coins minted in his reign ^[2] .

In 240, a rebellion broke out again in Africa, this time under the leadership of the proconsul Sabinian , who was also proclaimed emperor. Since the dissolution of the III Augustow Legion deprived the province of Africa of the necessary military protection, the Roman units of the governor Faltony Restitutian from neighboring Mauritania had to be sent to suppress the Sabinian rebellion ^[14] . Unlike the events of 238, the Sabinian rebellion did not find support in other parts of the Roman Empire ^[3] .

The situation on the Danube border posed a greater threat. During the short reign of Balbin and Pupien, the Goths invaded the province of Lower Moesia and plundered the city of Istres . At the same time, carps , a tribe of Dacian origin, crossed the Danube somewhat to the west ^[2] . The governor of Lower Moesia, Tullius Menofil, concluded a peace agreement with the Goths ^{[15] [16]} , offering them annual tribute in exchange for the Roman legionnaires they had captured, then, however, barely strengthening his army, he refused a similar treaty with the carps ^[2] . In 239, coins were issued in the Upper-Mozian city of Viminacium , on which inscriptions were proclaimed, proclaiming a new era in the history of the province - an era of comprehensive reorganization of the entire region, including the modernization of the border defense line ^[2] .

At the end of 240 or at the beginning of 241, the political regime underwent important changes: Gordian III appointed Aquila Timesifei , the prefect of the Praetorian guard, Guy Fury , who soon gained great influence on the young emperor ^{[2] [3]} . Guy Julius Priscus became a colleague of Timesifei ^[15] . Thimesipheus, who came from the eastern provinces, made an excellent career as governor in various provinces, ranging from Arabia to Gaul and from Asia to Germany. The prefect's abilities quickly made him a central figure in the government of Gordian III, and his authority was increased due to the marriage of his daughter Fury Sabinia Tranquillina with a young princeps in the summer of 241 ^[3] . This event was marked by the release of coins dedicated to her, VENVS VICTRIX, the victorious goddess of love ^[2] . According to the French historian Christian Settipani, a daughter was born in their marriage, whose name, presumably, was Fury ^[17] .

Gordian III was quite tolerant of Christians , not hindering the spread of Christianity among the population. According to Eusebius of Caesarea , the era of the reign of Gordian III is marked by the activity of Origen ^[18] . In addition, the young princeps patronized the philosopher Plotinus ^[19] . Under Gordian, the barracks for the soldiers of the Miesen fleet in Rome were expanded ^[13] .

Persian Campaign

Difficulties on the Danube continued, but greater danger loomed over the eastern Roman borders. The aggressive expansion of the restored Persian Empire under the rule of the Sassanian dynasty Ardashir Papakan continued with his son and successor Shapur I , who, when ascending the throne, received the challenging title of “King of the Iranian and Non-Iranian Kings” ^{[2] [3]} . The focus of Persian attention was the expansion of its territories in Upper Mesopotamia (southeast Turkey , Northern Syria and Northern Iraq ), most of which was under direct Roman control for more than one generation ^[3] . Apparently, in the last months of the reign of Maximinus of Thracian (238), Ardashir captured Carra and Nisibis (although according to the Byzantine historians this event took place in 241, already under Shapur, after the capture of Khatra ) ^[3] . In 239, Dura Europos was taken ^[20] . In 240, the sick Ardashir apparently made his son Shapur co-ruler. During this year, Khatra, where the military Roman garrison was located, was captured by the Persian army ^[3] . The report that Antioch also fell seems false ^[3] . However, the period 240-241 was marked by a break in minting at the Antioch Mint, which may indirectly indicate a temporary transition of the city to Persian control ^[21] .

Timesipheus began to organize a campaign against the Persians and in 242, together with Gordian, who had previously opened the gates of the temple of Janus , went with the army to the east. When Tullius Menofil was removed from his post as governor of Lower Moesia in 241, the attacks of the border tribes resumed, considering that all agreements concluded with Menofil were invalid after his resignation ^{[21] [20]} . The praetorian prefect defeated this enemy, forcing him to retreat beyond the Danube ^[20] . It is known that representatives of the Goths were recruited into the Roman army ^[22] .

In the spring of 243, the Romans were ready to begin the campaign. The army crossed the Euphrates and repulsed Carra and Nisibis (according to historian David Potter, this happened in 242 ^[23] ) ^[3] . Soon, the Persians were defeated under Resaen (despite this, on the Persian bas-relief Gordian was depicted defeated ^[2] ) ^[3] . The threat from the Syrian capital of Antioch was allotted. In addition, Gordian III restored the kingdom of Eden and enthroned the son of Manu IX, Abgar X Fraat ^[24] .

Thimesipheus supposed to go deep into Mesopotamia to capture the Persian capital Ctesiphon ^[21] , but he suddenly died of the disease (according to the “History of Augustus”, the prefect was a victim of the machinations of Mark Julius Philip ^[25] ) ^[3] . Timesifei’s colleague in the prefecture of Guy Julius Priscus convinced the emperor to appoint his brother Mark Julius Philip to the vacant seat. The campaign against the Sassanids continued, and the Roman army advanced along the Euphrates in the autumn of 243 and at the beginning of the winter of 244 ^[3] .

Death

Various battles are reported by the Persian and Roman sources about what further battles took place and with what result. According to the inscription of Shapur I “Res Gestae Divi Saporis” on the Kaaba of Zoroaster at the beginning of 244, the Roman and Sassanian armies met near the city of Massis (modern Fallujah in Iraq, 64 kilometers west of Baghdad ). The Persians won a decisive victory, and Massis was renamed to Peroz-Shapur ("Victor Shapur"). Shapur noted the victory with a trilingual inscription by Naksha-Rustam (modern Iran), which claims that Gordian III was killed during the battle ^[3] .

Roman sources present these events in a different way. Aurelius Victor writes that the young emperor "died in the campaign after the outstanding luck in the war" due to the intrigues of Philip ^[26] . Zosim, in principle, agrees with him ^[27] . Julius Capitolin describes the essence of these intrigues in more detail. Philip turned the soldier against the Princeps, arguing, "that Gordian is too young and can not control the empire, that it is better to rule the one who knows how to control the soldiers and the state" ^[28] . In addition, he deliberately delayed the supply of provisions for the army ^[29] . The warriors demanded that Gordian share power with Philip, with the latter being given custody of him. As a result, the emperor offered the prefect a throne, and for himself asked to leave the title of Caesar or some post under his leadership ^[30] . Philip almost agreed to this, but because of fears that Gordian would return the location of the soldiers again due to his origin and the love of the people and the Senate , he ordered to kill him ^[31] . The senate was sent messengers to report that Gordian died his death. Perhaps the date of Gordian's death is February 25, 244 ^[2] . Michael Pichin determined the following time frame for this event: late January - early February ^[32] . Jona Rendering also calls February ^[13] . Not far from Circesia on the banks of the Euphrates , a cenotaph was erected in memory of the emperor with a laudatory inscription, but the remains of the late emperor were sent to Rome ^[33] . After the death of Gordian, Philip made peace with the Persians, not as humiliating as the Roman sources suggest ^[34] .

The reign of Gordian III shows that young rulers, like modern constitutional monarchs, have an advantage: they do not participate in political decisions, and this allows them to be a symbol of unity for the whole society ^[3] . Gordian III ascended the throne in an era when the Roman state was in distress. However, he and his administration soon began to correct the situation. The manuscripts found in Aphrodisiades give an idea of ​​the goals of his provincial politics. In 238, a decree was issued that ordered governors to do everything possible to comply with the law ^[35] . Были прощены прежние преступления, когда для решения гражданских проблем применялась сила, но тем не менее принимались меры, чтобы впредь пресечь игнорирование законов государственными чиновниками ^[35] . Манускрипты из фракийского города Скаптопара рассказывают о том, что его жители посылали жалобы на притеснения со стороны солдат через своего земляка, служившего в преторианской гвардии , надеясь тем самым обратить особое внимание на свои петиции. Однако им было указано на необходимость отправлять прошения по официальным каналам. Однако обычно такой путь оказывался бесполезным по причине большого количества различных жалоб в то время, как стеснения и вымогательства были в особенности распространены ^[35] . Гордиан после смерти был обожествлён ^[36] .

Sources

1. Aurelius Victor. Gordian - the Younger. // About Caesars .
2. Julius Capitoline. History of Augustus // Three Gordianov . - M .: Science, 1992.
3. Herodian. The history of imperial power after Mark // Book VII.
4. Eutropium. Breviary from the base of the City .
5. Zosim. New History // Book I.

Literature

1. Britova N.N., Loseva N.M., Sidorova N.A. Roman sculptural portrait . - M .: Art, 1975.
2. Grant, M. Roman Emperors. Gordian III . - 1998.
3. Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. - London, New York: Routledge, 2001.
4. Potter, David Stone. The Roman Empire at Bay, AD 180-395. - Routledge, 2004.
5. Meckler, Michael. Gordian III (238-244 AD ) . An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors . 2001.
6. Bowman, Alan K. The Cambridge Ancient History: The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337. - 2004.

• Coins of Gordian III . Date of treatment September 1, 2013.