 Later historians suggest Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos . He replaced the traditional head of the Roman pantheon , Jupiter , with the deity of whom he was high priest , Elagabalus . He forced leading members of Rome 's government to participate in religious rites celebrating this deity , over which he personally presided . Elagabalus was supposedly " married " as many as five times , lavished favours on male courtiers popularly thought to have been his lovers , and was reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace . His behavior estranged the Praetorian Guard , the Senate , and the common people alike . Amidst growing opposition , Elagabalus , just 18 years old , was assassinated and replaced by his cousin Severus Alexander on 11 March 222 , in a plot formulated by his grandmother , Julia Maesa , and carried out by disaffected members of the Praetorian Guard . 
