Commodus. M. Perennis, 247 Extravagance and cruelty of Commodus, 248 Murder of Commodus, 249 _Pertinax_, 249 _Didius Julianus_, one of the prætorians, aims at the sovereignty, 249 Clodius Albinus, 250 _Septimus Severus_, 250 War of Pescennius Niger, 252 Victory over Clodius Albinus, 253 War against the Parthians, 253 M. Bassianus Antoninus Caracalla, 254 Julia Domna, 254 Changes in the administration of Italy, 255 _Correctores_, 255 M. ANTONINUS CARACALLA. MACRINUS. ELAGABALUS. ALEXANDER SEVERUS. _M. Bassianus Caracalla_, Geta, 256 Murder of Geta, 256 Caracalla’s journey through the provinces, 257 Massacre at Alexandria, 257 The right of citizenship given to all the subjects of the Roman empire, 257 Fondness of Caracalla for Alexander the Great, 258 War against the Parthians, 258 Murder of Caracalla, 259 _Macrinus_, 259 Julia Domna, 259 Mamæa, 260 Insurrection of Elagabalus, 260 Macrinus conquered and beheaded, 260 _Elagabalus_, 260 Alexander Severus adopted as Cæsar by Elagabalus, 261 Rebellion against Elagabalus. His death, 261 _Alexander Severus_, 261 His rule. Domitius Ulpianus, 262 Advance of the Germans. Downfall of the Parthian dynasty, 263 The Persians headed by one of the race of Sassan, 264 War with the Persians, 264 END OF ALEXANDER SEVERUS. MAXIMIN, GORDIAN, FATHER AND SON. MAXIMUS AND BALBINUS. GORDIAN III. PHILIP. DECIUS.