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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt:...JULIA VARIA SO EMI AS, HIS MOTHER. JULIA VARIA NLESA, HIS GRANDMOTHER. After Macrinus was put to flight, his army having declared for Heliogabalus, Majsa conducted her grandson to Antioch, where the honours due to the Emperor were paid him, and he received the oath of the legions. Msesa, who was full of schemes and projects, thought it fitting that the new Emperor should write to the Senate to entreat them to confirm his election, but his letter was not well calculated to bespeak their favour; for, whereas the preceding Emperors had never assumed any title till after they had been decreed them by the Senate, he insolently took, by his own authority, those of Emperor, Caesar, August, Happy, son of Antoninus, and several other pompous surnames. The obsequious Senate confirmed, however, what the soldiers had done, and, the more to please the new Emperor, they honoured in an extraordinary manner the memory of Caracalla, whose son he pretended to be. By the same decree the title of August was conferred upon Maesa and Soemias, together with all the honours that had ever been given to the mothers of the Emperors. The senators, for all this, regretted Macrinus extremely, and not without reason; for he could not possibly have had a more unworthy successor. To say the truth, Heliogabalus was very handsome, well made, and had a very agreeable countenance; but never did a fair outside conceal a more polluted soul. In him was to be found an unhappy collection of all sorts of vices. He possessed the malice and cruelty of all the tyrants that had ever reigned; gave himself up entirely to the most abominable lewdness; carried luxury, prodigality, and. insolence to the highest pitch. Being informed that the Senate had ratified his election, and that he had nothing more to f...