Marcus Antonius Gordianus was born in 192 to a family with deep roots in the Roman Republic. His praenomen and nomen suggest his ancestors received citizenship under Mark Antony or one of his daughters during the late Republican era.
Gordian II was the son of Gordian I and Fabia Orestilla. Modern historians dismiss claims that his mother descended from emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius, though some evidence suggests she might have been the granddaughter of Herodes Atticus.
Gordian II lost the Battle of Carthage while commanding an army of untrained soldiers against professional forces led by Capelianus. He was killed fighting outside the city walls and his body was never recovered according to the Historia Augusta.
Father and son ruled jointly for only about 22 days before their deaths. The Chronograph of 354 states they ruled for 20 days while other sources suggest nearly three months.
The Historia Augusta remains the primary source for details about Gordian II's life but is notoriously unreliable. Modern historians dismiss many claims made within its pages as false or exaggerated due to contradictory evidence from multiple ancient writers.