Rise and fall of Elagabalus

E216974

The rise and fall of Elagabalus refers to the brief, tumultuous reign and dramatic downfall of the teenage Roman emperor Elagabalus, whose controversial religious reforms and eccentric behavior destabilized the Severan dynasty.

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Label Occurrences
Rise and fall of Elagabalus canonical 1

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historical event sequence
period of Roman imperial history
cause accession of Elagabalus after assassination of Caracalla
dynastic ambitions of the Severan family
manipulation by Julia Maesa
support of Syrian legions for Elagabalus
characterizedBy controversial religious reforms
eccentric imperial behavior
rapid loss of political support
violent overthrow
documentedIn Cassius Dio’s Roman History
surface form: Cassius Dio's Roman History

Herodian's History of the Roman Empire
Historia Augusta
endTime 222
followedBy reign of Severus Alexander
hasEffect alienation of the Roman Senate
political instability in the Severan dynasty
religious controversy in Rome
tension with the Praetorian Guard
hasKeyFigure Julia Maesa
Julia Soaemias
Praetorian Guard
Severus Alexander
hasPart downfall of Elagabalus
reign of Elagabalus
rise of Elagabalus
historicalSignificance highlights tensions between imperial innovation and Roman tradition
illustrates fragility of imperial authority dependent on military support
interpretedAs case study in military influence on imperial succession
example of adolescent rule in the Roman Empire
turning point in Severan legitimacy
involves Praetorian Guard intervention
assassination of Elagabalus
conflict with traditional Roman religious elites
elevation of Severus Alexander as emperor
elevation of the Syrian sun god to chief Roman deity
introduction of the cult of Elagabal
marriage alliances arranged by the imperial family
mainSubject Elagabalus
Severan dynasty
place Roman Empire
Rome
politicalContext Severan dynasty crisis
Crisis of the Third Century
surface form: Third Century Crisis (early phase)
precededBy reign of Caracalla
religiousContext conflict between Eastern cults and traditional Roman religion
startTime 218
timePeriod early 3rd century

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Severan dynasty notableEvent Rise and fall of Elagabalus