Gordian I & Gordian II - The Roman Emperors #27 Roman History Documentary Series

[@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658]

''Our main source for his life is the Historia Agusta'' what a cruel fate. But seriously it's most impressive that he was born in the reign of Antoninus Pius and outlived Maximinus Thrax. He did leave a legacy in the province he governed.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Spot on assessment, and Thrax and his son got what was coming to them, and a Gordian III ruled

[@hirohito5399]

I’m so hype for the future episode on Aurelian !

[@Sarvonis]

YES!

[@fatboibrian9047]

yeah but I wanna see the one on gallienus but I think it's going to be a joint video of him and valerian

[@hirohito5399]

@@fatboibrian9047 Gallienus was very good a dedicate video on him could be great

[@Eazy-ERyder]

Me too!

[@hydind2998]

Narrator's voice and diction is other worldly! Love from India

[@TetsuShima]

0:56 Historia Augusta: *Slanders and gives a very bad reputation to the legacy of many important men and women, including the historian Suetonius* Suetonius: "So that's what Karma feels like..."

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Caveat Emptor

[@thadtuiol1717]

@@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus Esse quam videri, old boy...

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

@@thadtuiol1717 🤣 Et tu

[@lucky_342]

Gordian doesn't need to hear all this, he's a highly trained emperor.

[@lawd_sele]

We've assured the Prefect, that nothing will go wrong...

[@Hilversumborn]

It's honestly a miracle the Roman Empire didn't collapse during the crisis.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yeah true! Thanks, in large parts, to Gallienus and Aurelian

[@richardscanlan3419]

True,but they got lucky,they managed to throw up men like Cludius Gothicus and Aurelian. The Illyrian emperors basically saved Rome's ass.

[@TetsuShima]

The Historia Augusta may not have been one of the most reliable historical texts ever written, but f*ck if it wasn't entertaining and creative as HELL!!!

[@thadtuiol1717]

I consider it the imperial fan fiction of the time. As long as it sounds even remotely plausible, I'm digging it!

[@ZakeriasRowlandJones]

Love these videos man. Keep up the great work!

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Thanks! Will do!

[@RENATVS_IV]

Very educative as always. I didn't know them

[@nothisispatrick4644]

So many emperor's in such a short time! *This is a crisis!*

[@onemoreminute0543]

When it's a double Emperor episode, you know the Crisis of the Third Century is here

[@asheland_numismatics]

These videos are awesome!

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Thank you, glad you find them interesting

[@asheland_numismatics]

@@TheSPQRHistorian 😄

[@HerculesMays]

It's always fascinating to ponder the "what-ifs" if Roman history, and I wonder just how Gordian I and II might have done had they succeeded in securing their claim to the Roman dominion. I feel like Gordian I would have proved a capable and conscientious administrator who would be fondly remembered,. He, however, would almost certainly have failed to handle the problem of the bloated military and increasing barbarian incursions without him getting assassinated as a result.

[@alessandrogini5283]

Alexander severus Is an even more what if

[@robbabcock_]

Terrific video!⚔

[@iexist3919]

What’s the end goal of the great series? Will you stop with Romulus Augustulus or will you cover the Eastern Emperors as well?

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

I did plan to do all of them, including the eastern roman ones

[@mism847]

@@TheSPQRHistorian Amazing! I'll watch all of them.

[@ilduce4298]

@@TheSPQRHistorian good to hear that I am so excited to get to Heraclius and Basil 2

[@elvisp5456]

@@TheSPQRHistorian damn thats awesome, really love those videos

[@causantinthescot]

I am looking for a video about GALLIENVS, the first-would be RESTITVTOR ORBIS

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yeah me too ✌️

[@causantinthescot]

@@TheSPQRHistorian I will write a alternative story about what if GALLIENVS survived the assassination and lived until 80 years old. To some extent it's a fanfiction, but he would reunite the empire if he hadn't been screwed so hardly. Glad to see you are also a fan of the Junior IVLIVS CAESAR!

[@erinaltstadt4234]

thank you

[@TetsuShima]

There is no way that Gordian could have been consul with Caracalla and lived to tell the tale. Everyone knows that sharing power was not one of good old Marcus Aurelius Antoninus' best qualities.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Some got lucky perhaps ?

[@kaloarepo288]

The origin of his name probably goes back to the town of Gordium which was the capital of Phrygia(central Turkey) and the site of the famous Gordian knot which Alexander the Great cut with his sword instead of untying it.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yeah seams likely

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

These poor guys, The Gordian's didn't stand a chance...

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

It was a very poorly thoughtout, considering they likely new that Legio III Augusta would side with their rival in Numidia. But the question is, why they didnt sail to Rome as soon as possible?

[@mhug162]

@@TheSPQRHistorian Persumably for the same reason they came to the purple in the first place, because of their supporters. If they abandoned Africa the rich men who supported them would kill them.

[@rorschach1985ify]

@@TheSPQRHistorian Considering how Gordian was literally threatened into becoming Emperor I would say that nameless orator who said that speech had more to do with the power behind the scenes and for all we know may have forced or "persuaded" them to stay and fight in Africa rather than sail safely to Italy.

[@JuliaMay-t8l]

They were in a Gordian knot!

[@MegaTang1234]

Was Gordian the first emperor to be proclaimed at the end of a sword?

[@Sulla-ps3jv]

The first but not the last.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Perhaps Claudius was, depending on what theory of his ascensention you subscribe to. Nerva was perhaps also forced to adopt Trajan under a certaim degree of threat - again depending on what theory you believe

[@johnmiller8975]

Augustus He had to fight his way to the throne If you mean proclaimed by the Praetorians that would be Claudius If you mean the Legions, that would be Vespasianus

[@mhug162]

Fun little detail about Gordian II from the Historia Agusta. "He was very fond of women; indeed, it is said that he had twenty-two concubines decreed him, from all of whom he left three or four children apiece." That would make a maximum of 88 children! Think of the succession struggle if they had been legitimate.

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

Yeah imagine the inheritance disputes

[@MM22966]

Two Gordos for the price of one!!! Now that's Italian Value!!!!

[@Anakunus]

OK, this is interesting... Now that I know the events of Gordianuses "reign", I'm not convinced they should be counted as emperors at all. I mean, they were simply usurpers while the legitimate emperor was still alive and in power, and they both died before him. Sure, their claim was supported by the senate, but that seems to have happened only because the senators thought Maximinus to be dead. Not to mention that neither of them actually did any ruling in practice after they had been declared emperors. So, maybe they shouldn't be enlisted as Roman emperors.

[@gregmiller9710]

..these are two emperors coins (save for a G-2 repro)..that do not haunt my collection due to price...

[@TheSPQRHistorian]

I presume they didn't mint that many coins considering their short reign

[@causantinthescot]

Next: Pupienus and Balbinus... No. It's Pupienus and a piece of trash who is worth less than a mill.

[@chronicxdzed2693]

Leah Lipps phenotype Michael Doukas 7

[@ilduce4298]

.

[@youvebeengreeked]

*XI...*

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

"Liberalism in a Man is like rabies in a Dog" -- Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius commenting on the fickle, constantly bickering, overtly emotional, narcissistic, dramatic, democratic, idealistic philosopher and political Greeks in the forum of Athens... Meditations

[@youvebeengreeked]

@@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus *A little out of the blue, but very true.*

[@youvebeengreeked]

@@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus Which passage of Meditations is that from? I have the book right in front of me, but haven't flicked through it in a while.

[@chickencharlie1992]

Looks like we're gonna have a long reign for Emperor Gordian... ... ... ...NOT! Yeah I said it. I went there.

[@jay2159]

First

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Et tu ? 🌿😆🌿

[@hiddenperson3696]

Second

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

@@hiddenperson3696 more like last

[@hiddenperson3696]

@@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus third to last.