GORDIANUS, an illustrious Roman senator, who claimed his descent on the father's side from the Gracchi, and on the mother's from the Emperor Trajan. He seems to have been one of the richest senators of Rome, but his unambitious spirit, and his devotion to the study of literature, probably saved him from a violent death and the loss of his property. He was raised to the dignity of aedile in the reign of Caracalla, and the magnificence of the public shows he exhibited far surpassed any thing which Rome had ever witnessed. He was twice raised to the dignity of consul, by Caracalla A. D. 213, and by Alexander A. D. 229. His long life was spent in the study of letters; nor does he seem to have taken an active part in public affairs till he was named proconsul of Africa by the senate, an appointment which was highly approved of by Alexander, whose original letter on the subject to the senate is still preserved. (Hist. Aug. p. 152.) When the tyrant Maximin succeeded to the throne, he appointed a procurator of Africa worthy of himself, who exacted with the utmost severity the taxes he himself had imposed; but being murdered by the people, they proclaimed Gordian and his son emperors, A. D. 237. At first unwilling to accept the honour, he at length yielded to the pressing invitation of the people. The Gordians erected their court at Carthage, and no sooner did the deputation sent by the emperors to the senate make its appearance, than that body joyfully confirmed their election. Meanwhile Capelianus, governor of Mauritania, marched against Carthage with such rapidity, that they were unable to collect troops in sufficient numbers to op-
Gordon. pose him. The younger Gordian fell at the head of a few guards; and his father, whose reign had not exceeded thirty-six days, put an end to his life on the first news of the defeat. Gordian was the author of a poem, in thirty books, on the actions of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. (Herodian, vii.; Hist. Aug.)