Elagabalus
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.[1]
Elagabalus was one sick tyrant. "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.[2] His vices "are of such a kind that it is too disgusting even to allude to them."[2]
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.[3] He adopted his cousin Alexander Severus as his successor. Although Elagabalus treated his soldiers well, they despised him on account of his "unspeakably disgusting life."[2] The Praetorian guard murdered Elagabalus in 222, paving the way for his cousin to rule.