Italy: Icon of Gordian III (225-244), 32nd Roman emperor, from the book Icones imperatorvm romanorvm (Icons of Roman Emperors), Antwerp, c. 1645

Gordian III (224-244) was the grandson of Emperor Gordian I and nephew of Emperor Gordian II. There is little known about his early life, but soon after the deaths of Gordian I and Gordian II in 238, Gordian III was renamed Marcus Antonius Gordianus, as his grandfather, and became imperial heir.

When current co-emperors Pupienus and Balbinus were executed by the Praetorian Guard months after their accession, Gordian became emperor at the age of 13, the youngest sole legal Roman emperor throughout the existence of the unified Roman Empire. Due to his age, the ruling of Rome was actually done by the Senate, with Gordian III being little more than a puppet figurehead, much loved by the people for his name and lineage, but powerless.

During his rule, there was a renewed attack on Roman lands by the Sassanid Empire, and Gordian III led an army eastwards to defeat the Sassanids. It was during the campaign against the Sassanids in 244 that Gordian III died. Sources are conflicted whether the 19-year-old emperor died in battle or was murdered by his own army. He was said to have been held in high esteem by the army however, and earned the lasting love of the Roman people.

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