ABSTRACT
[571] After Pseudo-Antoninus1 had been eliminated, Alexander, the son of Mamaea, his anepsios—for this word, which now means “nephew,” was used by the ancients to mean “cousins”—was allotted the rule.2 He immediately proclaimed Augusta his own mother, Mamaea, who had handled affairs of state, and she gathered wise men around her son in order that his mores be modulated by them, and from the senate she selected the best counselors, with whom she shared all that had to be done. When the command of the guardsmen and the administration of the treasury had been entrusted to Domitius Ulpianus, he corrected many of Sardanapalus’ deeds. He killed Flavianus and Chrestus in order to succeed them, and not much later was attacked by the guardsmen by night and slaughtered. While Ulpianus still lived, there was, as the result of some trivial confrontation, violence between the people and the guardsmen, and for three days they battled one another. When the soldiers were getting the worst of things and set fire to some houses, the people, in fear for the city, reluctantly retired. Although other uprisings occurred, they were supressed.3
