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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Sallent, post: 3089210, member: 76194&quot;]My understanding from the Historia Augusta is that many sources said Gordian II was Gordian III&#039;s father, and some say his uncle, and the Historia Augusta treats Gordian III as the son of Gordian II...but most modern historians today go with the uncle version because it&#039;s easier to explain that way why Gordian III was in Rome and not in North Africa at the time of the uprising.</p><p><br /></p><p>So basically take your pick. I think his elevation makes more sense with him being Gordian II&#039;s son....why else would the Roman mob descend on the Senate steps to demand Gordian III be made emperor after the death of Gordian I and Gordian II, when the Senate wanted Balbinus and Pupianus? And why would the Senate then feel obliged to make Gordian III a Caesar? To me it makes more sense if Gordian II was his dad rather than Gordian III being some obscure nephew of Gordian II.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another reason I believe Gordian III is Gordian II&#039;s son is the name. If Gordian&#039;s mother was the biological sister of Gordian II, then Gordian III&#039;s father would have been from another family and we would see that clearly reflected in Gordian III&#039;s name. In a patriarchal society like the Romans, Gordian III would have belonged to his father&#039;s clan and would not carry the name Gordian but rather that of his father&#039;s family. But it would make sense for him to be called Gordian if he was paternally bound to the Gordian clan. Based on what we know about Roman naming practices that is some pretty compelling evidence there, right [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER]&nbsp; ?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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