| Gordian II | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sestertius featuring Gordian II. The inscription reads imp caes m ant gordianvs afr avg. | |||||||||
| Roman emperor | |||||||||
| Reign | c. March – April 238[1] | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Maximinus Thrax | ||||||||
| Successor | Pupienus and Balbinus | ||||||||
| Co-emperor | Gordian I | ||||||||
| Born | c. 192 | ||||||||
| Died | April 238 (aged c. 46) Carthage, Africa Proconsularis | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Dynasty | Gordian | ||||||||
| Father | Gordian I | ||||||||
| Mother | Unknown, possibly Fabia Orestilla[4] | ||||||||
| Part of a series on Roman imperial dynasties |
| Year of the Six Emperors |
|---|
| AD 238 |
|
Gordian II (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus; c. 192 – April 238) was Roman emperor with his father Gordian I in 238 AD, the Year of the Six Emperors. Seeking to overthrow Maximinus Thrax, he died in battle outside Carthage. Since he died before his father, Gordian II had the shortest reign of any Roman emperor, at about 22 days.[5]
- ^ The exact chronology of events is unknown. See: Rea, J. (1972). "O. Leid. 144 and the Chronology of A.D. 238". ZPE 9, 1-19.
- ^ Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.
- ^ Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.
- ^ Historia Augusta, The Three Gordians, 17:4
- ^ Possibly second only to Quintillus, who, according to some sources, reigned for just 17 days. However, sources of his reign are contradictory, and Quintillus more likely ruled at least one month. Syvänne, Ilkka (2020). Aurelian and Probus. Pen and Sword. p. 65. ISBN 9781526767530.