How did Julia Maesa orchestrate the transition from Elagabalus?

Julia Maesa devised an assassination plot against her grandson, Emperor Elagabalus, due to growing opposition and alienation of the Praetorian Guard. She replaced him with his cousin Severus Alexander, who became the youngest sole Roman emperor at age 13. This transition preserved the Severan dynasty's imperial status after Elagabalus was murdered along with his mother Julia Soaemias.

What we know

• The assassination plot against Emperor Elagabalus was devised by his grandmother Julia Maesa. [4]
• Elagabalus was murdered along with his mother Julia Soaemias by his own guards, who cast their bodies into the Tiber river. [2]
• Following the assassination, Elagabalus was succeeded by his cousin Severus Alexander, who was 13 years old at the time. [2, 4]
• Julia Maesa and Julia Avita Mamaea were both members of the Severan dynasty and relatives to the emperors. [2, 5]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat caused the downfall of Elagabalus?
• what followedHow did the reign of Severus Alexander unfold?
• the bigger pictureWho were the members of the Severan dynasty?
• whoWhat was the role of Julia Domna?
• whenHow did the Crisis of the Third Century begin?
• an unexpected connectionWhy did religious controversies dominate a Roman emperor's reign?Elagabalus forced leading Roman government officials to participate in religious rites worshipping a baetyl stone representing his sun god.

Sources

• [1]Severus Alexander (Wikidata Q1769) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Severus Alexander · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Julia Domna · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Elagabalus · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Julia Avita Mamaea · CC BY-SA 4.0