Roman bust of Marcus Antonius Gordianus, known as Emperor Gordian III. The object was found in Tunisia; now it is in the Louvre in Paris (France). He ruled in the years 238 – 244 CE.
Gordian III was the grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II. The sudden and unexpected death of the father and son of the Gordians in Carthage in March 238 and Maximin Trak marching to Italy at the head of the Danube legions forced the senate to act quickly and choose successors, killing emperors who would remedy the crisis situation. The choice fell on the mature nobles – Pupien and Balbin, who were to co-rule on the same rights. As the new rulers travelled to the Capitol to make their usual sacrifices to the Gods, a hostile mob threatened their way. The hatred of the commoners was caused primarily by the election of Pupien to the highest office, who previously, as the prefect of Rome, treated the lowest masses of the capital sharply. An armed escort did not help – the emperors could not get into the temple, at some point the situation became very dangerous – stones started to move. Then someone in the crowd pointed out that the grandson of Gordian I was in the city, and a member of such an excellent family would improve the image of the new authorities. The emperors, to resolve the difficult situation, agreed to appoint the boy as a co-ruler.
