From N.S. Gill,
Your Guide to Ancient / Classical History.
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Definition: Alexander Severus or Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander (Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, or Alexianus Bassianus) was born 208 in Phoenicia and died 235 in Gaul. Severus was emperor of Rome from 222-235 A.D. Alexander Severus had been adopted by Elagabalus a year before Elagabalus was assassinated on the instigation of Alexander Severus' grandmother and Septimius Severus' sister-in-law Julia Maesa and Alexander's mother, Julia Mamaea who was said to have done the real ruling in Alexander Severus' reign.
When Alexander bought peace instead of fighting with the Germanic tribe of Allemani, his troops were outraged and killed Alexander Severus and his mother in 235. The troops then made Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus emperor.
Sources on the period of Alexander Severus include the Historia Augusta, Herodian, and Dio Cassius.