Are they're podcast listeners a quick notice before this episode commences.

I'm currently crowdfunding for Series 5 of the When in Rome podcast.

If you haven't found this podcast yet, it takes a Roman building or site and looks at it in exhaustive detail, so it's a good companion

to Emperors of Rome.

The fundraising is currently on Kickstarter, and if you back it, you'll also get access to a special

supporter-only podcast mini series.

So go to Kickstarter and look for the When in Rome Podcast.

Thanks.

And on that note. Are they?

Are they and welcome to Emperors of Rome, a Roman history podcast from Latrobe University. I'm your host Matt Smith and with me today is Dr. Kalin Davenport,

senior lecturer in Roman history at Macquarie University and Humboldt Research Fellow at

Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany.

This is episode CXX.X.X. VII. Mother knows best.

This is the first episode of our look at Severus Alexander, a young boy who came to power in Rome in 222,

in the wake of the death of his unpopular cousin Ella Gabylus. He would reign

for 13 years but struggle to assert authority, bringing the once proud Severin

Dynasty to a chaotic ending.

Here's Kalin Davenport.

Severus Alexander was a member of the Syrian branch of the Severan dynasty through Septimius's wife,

Julia Domna.

So he was the son of Yulia Mamia, who was the niece of Julia Domna and her husband, the equestrian

procurator Gessius Marcianus. And he was born in AD 208 in Emessa, Syria, just like his cousin Elagablus. And his birth name was Bacianus Alexionus so he wouldn't actually take the full name of

...