GORDIAN I AFRICANUS

Marcus Gordianus was born in c. AD 159 his lineage is a matter of some debate with his mother's Ulpia Gordiana claimed descendant from Trajan's and his father, Maecius Marullus being asserted by Gordian as being descended from the famous Gracchi brothers of the republican days of the empire. Both parents lineage is probably an attempt to improve his claim to the throne. Fabia Orestilia, the elder Gordian's wife, and mother of the younger Gordian, was a great granddaughter of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, who ruled 77 years earlier. The family could also lay claim to the consulship for the last three generations. During their years in the Senate, their vast wealth enabled them to acquire many friends as well as many supporters who had become dependent on them. They also managed to establish political alliances with many of the most distinguished houses of Rome including the famous Athenian philosopher Herodes Atticus, consul in AD 143, who was related to the wealthy landowning family of Gordian.

Gordian was impressive looking character, stocky in build and always elegantly dressed. He was kind to all his family and apparently had a great liking of bathing. Also he is said to have slept very often. He had a habit of falling asleep when dining with his friends, though never saw any need for feeling embarrassed about it thereafter. Gordian held a series of senatorial offices, before becoming consul at the age of 64, serving as a consul for the first time under Caracalla in 213 and for the second time under Severus Alexander in 229. Later he governor several provinces, one of which was Lower Britain (AD 237-38). Then, at the advanced age of eighty, he was appointed governor of the province of Africa by the Emperor Maximinus, a Thracian of peasant background who was uneducated and had risen from the ranks of the army. It may well have been that Maximinus, deeply unpopular and suspicious of possible challengers, saw the old Gordian as a harmless old dodderer and therefore felt he was a safe candidate for this position. And the emperor might well have been right, had not circumstances forced Gordian's hand.

Both Gordians lived a rather frugal and temperate life relative to their wealth, they spent huge sums in ministering to the enjoyment of their friends and to the people at large. Always accustomed to wealth, Gordian II grew up residing in the palace originally owned by Pompey the Great, later usurped by Mark Antony, and ultimately purchased by his great-great grandfather during Trajan's time. The younger Gordian's conduct was not as virtuous as his father's but he was respected just the same. Like many men of wealth, Gordian II was able to indulge in a variety of interests. He was known to have possessed more than twenty concubines, each of whom bore him three or four children. At the same time he was bequeathed a library of over 60,000 volumes by his preceptor Serenus Sammonicus. Attesting to the fact that these books were not on display merely as a showcase, history records his love of literature through his writings in prose and verse. His life in public service, though not outstanding, was one of integrity. He served as quaestor under the Emperor Elagabalus, and praetor and consul under his successor, Emperor Severus Alexander. When the elder Gordian was sent to serve as proconsul in North Africa by Emperor Severus Alexander in 229 A.D., the younger Gordian was appointed his lieutenant, and was sent to assist the older man in his administration. The two men governed eight years before their peaceful province was to erupt in violence

GORDIAN I. 238 AD. AR Denarius (2.81 gm). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Securitas seated left, holding sceptre in right hand. RIC IV 5; BMCRE 11; RSC 10 CNG

During the Gordian's time in Africa, one of Maximinus' procurators was squeezing the local landowners for all the taxes he could get out of them to help finance the emperor's military campaigns which were costly and consumed vast amounts of money. The theory is that an over-zealous procurator in the Carthaginian region near Thysdrus (El Djem), Tunisia tried to gain favor with Maximinus by condemning several wealthy young men of noble families, and then attempting to seize their family fortunes to help finance the emperor's military exploits. Things finally boiled over with the noblemen revolting, and rising up with their tenants killing the tax collector and his. Gordian's duties were clear. He was obliged to restore order and crush this tax revolt. The people of the province had only one chance of avoiding Rome's wrath. And that was to incite their governor to revolt. Gordian by chance was also in Thysdrus at the time and so they proclaimed Gordian emperor. At first their governor was reluctant to accept and begged them to leave him alone to die in peace of old age but on 19 March AD 238 he agreed to his elevation to the rank of Augustus and only a few days later, having returned to Carthage, he appointed his son of the same name as co-emperor. Gordian realized that his only hope of survival was in spreading the
Rebellion so a deputation was at once sent to Rome. Maximinus was hated and they were certain to find widespread support with the senate. The senators would obviously prefer the patrician Gordian and his son to the common Maximinus. And so the deputation carried several private letters to various powerful members of the senate
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But one dangerous obstacle needed to be removed quickly. Vitalianus was the emperor's undyingly loyal praetorian prefect. With him in command of the praetorians, the capital would not be able to defy Maximinus. And so a meeting was requested with Vitalianus, at which Gordian's men set upon him and simply murdered him. Thereafter on April 2, 238 the Senate confirmed the Gordians as co-Augusti (giving them the titles 'AFRICANVS') with only the senior Gordianus being given the title of 'Pontifex Maximus', implying superiority. Next the two new emperors announced what they sought to do. The network of government informers and secret police, which had slowly arisen throughout the reign of successive emperors, was to be disbanded. They also promised an amnesty for exiles, and - naturally - a bonus payment to the troops. Severus Alexander was deified and Maximinus and his son Maximus was pronounced a public enemy. Any supporters of Maximinus were rounded up and killed, including Sabinus, the city prefect of Rome. Twenty senators, all ex-consuls, were each appointed a region of Italy which they were to defend against Maximinus' expected invasion. And Maximinus was indeed very soon on the march against them.

However, events in Africa now cut short the reign of the two Gordians. As a result of an old court case (it seems that Gordian had sued Capellianus over some matter), the Gordians had an enemy in Capellianus, the governor of neighbouring Numidia. Capellianus remained loyal to Maximinus, perhaps only to spite them. Attempts were made to remove him from office, but they failed. But, decisively, the province of Numidia was home to the Third Legion 'Augusta', which therefore fell under Capellianus command. It was the only legion in the region. Capellianus marched eastward with the Auxiliary cohorts at his disposal. When he reached Lembaesis, Legio III Augusta joined him without hesitation so when he marched on Carthage with it, there was little the Gordians could put in his way. Gordian II led whatever troops he had against Capellianus, trying to defend the city. But he was defeated and killed (although his body was never found). On hearing this his father committed suicide by hanging immediately afterward (April 12, 238). Why they did not flee to Rome, when faced by impossible odds and being in one of the Mediterranean's most famous harbours is unknown. Perhaps they thought it dishonorable. Perhaps they indeed intended to depart if things could not be halted, but the younger Gordian's death prevented this from happening. In any case, theirs was a very brief reign, lasting only twenty-two days. They were deified shortly after by their successors Balbinus and Pupienus.