On the 13th of March 222, the Roman army hailed a thirteen-year-old boy as emperor. This young man was Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, grandson of Julia Maesa. His grandmother had orchestrated a political coup to place him on the throne after his cousin Elagabalus was murdered. The guards who killed Elagabalus cast both bodies into the Tiber river as a mark of contempt. Maesa believed her other grandson lacked potential and arranged for Elagagalus to adopt Alexander. The Senate ratified this decision the following day, conferring titles like Augustus and Pontifex maximus upon the child. Herodian noted that Elagabalus and Alexander were about fourteen and ten years old respectively in May 218. Cassius Dio claimed Alexianus was the son of Gessius Marcianus, though Icks disputes this timeline. The future emperor bore two cognomina: Bassianus according to Dio, and Alexianus according to Herodian. "Alexianus" was likely later converted to Alexander. He became the youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire at age thirteen.
Reforms And Monetary Policy
Alexander employed jurists such as Ulpian to oversee justice administration during his reign. A select board of sixteen senators may have been created under family influence, though some scholars dispute Herodian's view. He established a municipal council of fourteen members to assist the urban prefect. Excessive luxury diminished at court while he restored the Baths of Nero around 227 or 229. These baths are sometimes known as the Baths of Alexander after him. He extended imperial residence on the Esquiline Hill with elaborate buildings. The Nymphaeum of Alexander still stands today in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Upon accession, silver purity of the denarius dropped from 46.5% to 43%. Actual silver weight fell from 1.41 grams to 1.30 grams. In 229, he revalued the coin, raising purity to 45% and weight to 1.46 grams. The following year, base metal decreased while silver increased again to 50.5% and 1.50 grams. Taxes were lightened and loan offices instituted for moderate interest rates. He allowed a synagogue to be built in Rome and gifted it the Severus Scroll.