His family was of equestrian rank, and originally came from Gaul. In A.D. 185, he was commander-in-chief of the army in Pannonia and Illyricum; and on the murder of Pertinax was elected Emperor. He disbanded and banished the Prætorian guards, re-constituted the army, whose fidelity he secured, and marched against his two rivals, Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus, the first of whom had been declared Emperor in the East, and the last, in Gaul. Defeating them both, he passed three years in the East, warring against the Parthians, whom he subdued. In A.D. 208, he went to Britain, in order to punish the Caledonians. But before his design could be carried out, he fell himself a victim--it is said to grief, to the dissensions of his sons--in the city of York. He had many kingly qualities, but was without clemency. A rigid disciplinarian, simple and sober in his tastes. [From the marble in the Capitoline Museum at Rome.] 55. GORDIANUS--MARCUS ANTONIUS, surnamed AFRICANUS. _Roman Emperor_, A.D. 238. [Born at Rome, A.D. 157. Died at Carthage, in Africa, A.D. 238. Aged 80.] Born of an honourable family, claiming high descent, and possessing great wealth. When Ædile, his public spectacles were pre-eminently magnificent. At one of them 1000 gladiators fought at once. When appointed Pro-Consul in Africa, he was called “The New Scipio,” on account of his popular manners. When eighty years of age he was forced to become Emperor by the people of Carthage, who would not submit to the ferocious Maximinus. After a few months’ reign, however, he was attacked by Capellianus, the Procurator of Numidia, and hearing of the fall of his son, strangled himself with his own belt. A man of extraordinary self-command and sobriety, and very studious. In his youth he composed a poem in thirty books; and, to his latest hour, he passed some portion of the day in the study of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Virgil. In temper gentle and affectionate. [From the marble in the Capitoline Museum at Rome.] 56. COMMODUS--LUCIUS AURELIUS. _Roman Emperor_, A.D. 180-192. [Born at Lanuvium, in Italy, A.D. 161. Died at Rome, A.D. 192. Aged 31.] Son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior. It is said that he was handsome in form and feature. If history can be believed, he was a monster in human form. He was cruel in hot and cold blood, vain, cowardly, impious. He appeared many times in the Circus as gladiator, and condescended to become a buffoon for the amusement of the lowest of his people; but he is chiefly famous for his human butcheries. He was poisoned at last by his mistress, Marcia, who was only just in time to save her own life, which had been already doomed by her sanguinary paramour. His death gave occasion to almost frantic joy in Rome. [From the marble in the Capitoline Museum at Rome.] 57. MACRINUS--MARCUS OPILIUS. _Roman Emperor_, A.D. 217-218. [Born at Cæsarea, in Numidia, A.D. 164. Died near Archelaïs, in Cappadocia, A.D. 218. Aged 54.]