Worst Roman Emperor of all???

[Epictetus]

If we compare Elagabalus with his sucessor Severus Alexander the contrast cannot be more striking. Both were about the same age when they came (or were shoved) into power, and both were from the same family. Historians tells us Elagabalus was an abject failure while Severus Alexander was modestly successful, to a point. (Surely Dio had nothing to do with this, nor the at-times News of the World-ish Historia Augusta. :wink: )

How much influence did Julia Maesa wield over these two? Why is one looked upon as a monster while the other as mildly positive?