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Line 1: − + − + − Only about 13 years of age at the time of his ascension to the throne, the empire was ruled by his forceful mother, Julia Soaemias.<ref>''An Encyclopedia of World History'', Kingsport Press, 1948</ref> She was the hereditary high priestess of Baal at Emesa in Syria. "Elagabalus" means "Baal at Emesa."<ref name=Britannica>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181888/Elagabalus Elagabalus]", ''Britannica''</ref>+ − + + + + + + +
add Edward Gibbon
'''Elagabalus''' was emperor of [[Rome]] from A.D. 218 - 222 succeeding [[Macrinus]] who had been assassinated when he became unpopular with the military after he tried to cut the pay of the troops. Elagabalus was chosen because of his bloodline to [[Severus]]. He took the name Elagabalus in reverence for the Syrian sun god.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Military History'', Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979</ref>
'''Elagabalus''' was emperor of [[Rome]] from A.D. 218 - 222 succeeding [[Macrinus]] who had been assassinated when he became unpopular with the military after he tried to cut the pay of the troops. Elagabalus was chosen because of his bloodline to [[Severus]]. He took the name Elagabalus in reverence for the Syrian sun god.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Military History'', Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979</ref>
Elagabalus was a very perverse emperor who had sexual relations with both men and women. And he was reported to have offered large sums of money to any doctor who could provide him with female genitalia. "The name Elagabalus is branded in history above all others; for Caligula and Nero, if compared to him, appear in favorable light," according to nineteenth century historian Barthold Georg Niebuhr.<ref name=Niebuhr>Niebuhr, Barthold Georg, ''[http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=hbg_AAAAYAAJ&dq=Elagabalus+to+even+allude+to&source=gbs_navlinks_s The History of Rome from the First Punic War to the Death of Constantine]'' (1844), p. 306.</ref> His vices "are of such a kind that it is too disgusting even to allude to them."<ref name="Niebuhr" />
Elagabalus had sexual relations with both men and women. He was also reported to have offered large sums of money to any doctor who could provide him with female genitalia. According to nineteenth century historian Barthold Georg Niebuhr, his vices "are of such a kind that it is too disgusting even to allude to them."<ref name=Niebuhr>Niebuhr, Barthold Georg, ''[http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=hbg_AAAAYAAJ&dq=Elagabalus+to+even+allude+to&source=gbs_navlinks_s The History of Rome from the First Punic War to the Death of Constantine]'' (1844), p. 306.</ref>
About 13 years of age at the time of his ascension to the throne, the empire was ruled by his forceful mother, Julia Soaemias.<ref>''An Encyclopedia of World History'', Kingsport Press, 1948</ref> She was the hereditary high priestess of Baal at Emesa in Syria. "Elagabalus" means "Baal at Emesa."<ref name=Britannica>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181888/Elagabalus Elagabalus]", ''Britannica''</ref>
Elagabalus adopted his cousin [[Alexander Severus]] as his successor. Although Elagabalus treated his soldiers well, they despised him on account of his "unspeakably disgusting life."<ref name="Niebuhr" /> The [[Praetorian Guard]] murdered Elagabalus in 222, paving the way for his cousin to rule.
According to Edward Gibbon:
<blockquote>
The master of the Roman world affected to copy the manners and dress of the female sex, preferring the distaff to the sceptre, and dishonored the principal dignities of the empire by distributing them among his numerous lovers; one of whom was publicly invested with the title and authority of the emperor's, or, as he more properly styled himself, the empress's husband. It may seem probable, the vices and follies of Elagabalus have been adorned by fancy, and blackened by prejudice. Yet, confining ourselves to the public scenes displayed before the Roman people, and attested by grave and contemporary historians, their inexpressible infamy surpasses that of any other age or country.<ref>Gibbon, Edward, ''The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', Chapter VI.</ref>
</blockquote>
Elagabalus adopted his cousin [[Alexander Severus]] as his successor. Although Elagabalus treated his soldiers well, they despised him on account of his lifestyle.<ref name="Niebuhr" /> The [[Praetorian Guard]] murdered Elagabalus in 222, paving the way for his cousin to rule.
==References==
==References==