Alexander Severus

Alexander Severus (Marcus Aurelius Alexander Severus) (sivēr'us) [key], d. 235, Roman emperor (222–35), b. Syria. His name was changed (221) from Alexius Bassianus when he was adopted as the successor to Heliogabalus. Although he won a triumph in a campaign (232) against Ardashir I of Persia, he could not maintain discipline among his own troops and had to retire from battle. In a mutiny on the Rhine, he and his mother, Julia Mamaea, were murdered by the supporters of Maximin (d. 238).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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