Definition: Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus -- the Roman Emperor Gordian I -- was proclaimed emperor in A.D. 238 and given the cognomen Africanus while he was serving as Proconsul of Africa and living in Thysdrus (Tunisia). Gordian I was deified after his grandson Gordian III became emperor.
Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus was born around 159, possibly in Asia Minor. It is possible that Gordian I or his son Gordian II (born around 192) was the proconsul Antonius Gordianus to whom Philostratus dedicated Lives of the Sophists. The Historia Augusta says Gordian wrote an epic poem, the Antoniniad.
Gordian II was made co-emperor with his father and was killed when a senatorial governor of Numidia (Capelianus), who hated Gordian I, led troops loyal to Maximinus Thrax, against Gordian II in Carthage. Then Gordian I committed suicide, after having been emperor for three weeks.
Source: DIR Gordian I
Primary Sources: Philostratus, Herodian, Historia Augusta.
Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus was born around 159, possibly in Asia Minor. It is possible that Gordian I or his son Gordian II (born around 192) was the proconsul Antonius Gordianus to whom Philostratus dedicated Lives of the Sophists. The Historia Augusta says Gordian wrote an epic poem, the Antoniniad.
Gordian II was made co-emperor with his father and was killed when a senatorial governor of Numidia (Capelianus), who hated Gordian I, led troops loyal to Maximinus Thrax, against Gordian II in Carthage. Then Gordian I committed suicide, after having been emperor for three weeks.
Source: DIR Gordian I
Primary Sources: Philostratus, Herodian, Historia Augusta.
Examples:
Gordian was one of the soldier emperors whose number includes Maximinus Thrax, Gordian I, Gordian II, Balbinus, Pupienus Maximus, Gordian III, Philip I, Philip II, Decius, Herennius Etruscus, Hostilian, Trebonianus Gallus, Volusian, Aemilian, Valerian, Gallienus, Saloninus, Claudius II, Quintillus, Aurelian, Tacitus, Florian, Probus, Carus, Numerian, and Carinus.
