|
Severus Alexander ((ラテン語:Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus);〔In Classical Latin, Alexander's name would be inscribed as MARCVS AVRELIVS SEVERVS ALEXANDER AVGVSTVS.〕 1 October 208 – 19 March 235) was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty years of civil wars, foreign invasion, and collapse of the monetary economy. Alexander was the heir apparent to his cousin, the eighteen-year-old Emperor who had been murdered along with his mother Julia Soaemias by his own guards, who, as a mark of contempt, had their remains cast into the Tiber river.〔Dio, 60:20:2〕 He and his cousin were both grandsons of the influential and powerful Julia Maesa, who had arranged for Elagabalus' acclamation as emperor by the famous Third Gallic Legion. It was the rumor of Alexander's death that triggered the assassination of Elagabalus and his mother.〔Herodian, 5:8:5〕 As emperor, Alexander's peace time reign was prosperous. However militarily Rome was confronted with the rising Sassanid Empire. He managed to check the threat of the Sassanids, but when campaigning against Germanic tribes of Germania, Alexander attempted to bring peace by engaging in diplomacy and bribery. This alienated many in the legions and led to a conspiracy to assassinate and replace him. ==Domestic achievements== Under the influence of his mother, Alexander did much to improve the morals and condition of the people, and to enhance the dignity of the state.〔 He employed noted jurists to oversee the administration of justice, such as the famous jurist Ulpian.〔 His advisers were men like the senator and historian Cassius Dio and it is claimed that he created a select board of sixteen senators,〔Southern, pg. 60〕 although this claim is disputed.〔from the chapter entitled Administrative Strategies of the Emperor Severus Alexander and his Advisers, written by Lukas de Blois in the book Herrschaftsstrukturen und Herrschaftspraxis, chapter by〕 He also created a municipal council of fourteen who assisted the urban prefect in administering the affairs of the fourteen districts of Rome.〔Historia Augusta, ''Life of Severus Alexander'', 33:1〕 Excessive luxury and extravagance at the imperial court were diminished.〔Historia Augusta, ''Life of Severus Alexander'', 15:1〕 He also restored the Baths of Nero in 227 or 229 - they are sometimes also known as the Baths of Alexander after him. Upon his accession he reduced the silver purity of the denarius from 46.5% to 43% — the actual silver weight dropping from 1.41 grams to 1.30 grams; however, in 229 he revalued the denarius, increasing the silver purity and weight to 45% and 1.46 grams respectively. The following year he decreased the amount of base metal in the denarius while adding more silver – raising the silver purity and weight again to 50.5% and 1.50 grams.〔(Tulane University "Roman Currency of the Principate" )〕 Also during his reign taxes were lightened; literature, art and science were encouraged;〔Historia Augusta, ''Life of Severus Alexander'', 21:6〕 and, for the convenience of the people, loan offices were instituted for lending money at a moderate rate of interest.〔Historia Augusta, ''Life of Severus Alexander'', 21:2〕 In religious matters, Alexander preserved an open mind. It is said that he was desirous of erecting a temple to Jesus, but was dissuaded by the pagan priests.〔Historia Augusta, ''Life of Severus Alexander'', 43:6–7〕 He allowed a synagogue to be built in Rome, and he gave as a gift to this synagogue a scroll of the Torah known as the Severus Scroll.〔(1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia article "Alexander Severus" )〕 In legal matters, Alexander did much to aid the rights of his soldiers. He confirmed that soldiers could name anyone as heirs in their will, whereas civilians had strict restrictions over who could become heirs or receive a legacy.〔Campbell, pg. 221〕 Alexander also confirmed that soldiers could free their slaves in their wills.〔Campbell, pg. 224〕 Additionally, he protected the rights of soldiers to their property when they are off on campaign 〔Campbell, pg. 239〕 and reasserted that a soldier's property acquired in or because of military service (his ''castrense peculium'') could be claimed by no one else, not even the soldier's father.〔Campbell, pg. 234〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Severus Alexander」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|