Middle Roman Empire, Severan Dynasty Restored (218-235): 27 Severus Alexander, Sassanid [1/9] and Alamanni [1/3] Wars 

27 SEVERUS ALEXANDER (26; r.222-235)

On 13 March 222 Alexander ascended to the throne, after adding ‘Severus’ to his name. As he was only thirteen years old, power was in the hands of his mother, ¹²Julia Avita Mamaea, and his grandmother ¹⁰Julia Maesa. They quickly gained the support of the Senate by establishing an advisory council of sixteen distinguished senators which included the imperial biographer ⁰⁶Marius Maximus (c.70; fl.178-230) and ⁰⁹Cassius Dio. 

It was also arranged for a praetorian prefect to hold senatorial rank and could therefore sit as a judge in senatorial trials. The distinguished jurist ¹²Domitius Annius Ulpianus (c.53; fl.211-223) was made praetorian prefect and together with the largely equestrian bureaucracy became the chief civil authority, but behind the scenes the army still held ultimate control.

With Ulpian’s advice they instituted financial reforms that eased the burden of taxation that had escalated under Caracalla and Elagabalus. Expenditure for the imperial household was modified, the corn supply was assured, and loans of low interest were made available from the treasury.

Ulpian, as head of the praetorians, was charged with restoring discipline in the army, which had become lax under Elagabalus. In 223 the praetorians, angered at the strict discipline imposed by Ulpian, revolted and killed him. 

In 225 Alexander married Sallustia Orbiana but she was banished to Libya two years later when her father, Sallustius, was put to death having attempted to kill the emperor. In 232 Syrian legion hailed Taurinus but he drowned in the Euphrates after the uprising had been suppressed.

Severus Alexander’s Sassanid War (232-233), [1/9]

In 224 Ardashir-1 (62; r.224-242) overthrew the last Parthian king Artabanus V (r.c.208-224) and established the Sassanid Dynasty (224-651). News reached Rome in 230 that Ardashir had invaded Mesopotamia, taken Nisibis and Carrhae, and was pushing into Syria. After negotiations failed to produce results, Alexander and his mother departed to the East at the head of an army. In 232 they launched a three-pronged offensive, which resulted in heavy losses on both sides and forced a stalemate, but the Romans were able to recover Mesopotamia and Alexander returned to Rome in autumn 233.

Severus Alexander’s Alamanni War (234-235), [1/3]

Moving forces to the East had weakened the Empire’s Western defences and the Alamanni had taken this opportunity to invade Roman territory. In 234 Severus Alexander, Manaea and the legions headed for Rhine. After a quick Roman victory Alexander attempted to buy peace but this only served to incense the vengeful soldiers. In March 235 they mutinied and acclaimed one of their own, the Thracian ³⁷Julius Verus Maximinus (c.65; fl.235-238). Severus and his mother were murdered in the base camp near Mainz.