thumb|left|upright|Bust of Severus Alexander, the last emperor of the Severan dynasty; Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse Born Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus in around 208, Alexander was adopted as heir apparent by his slightly older and very unpopular cousin, Elagabalus, at the urging of Julia Maesa, who was the grandmother of both cousins and who had arranged for the emperor's acclamation by the Third Gallica Legion.
thumb|left|upright|Bust of Severus Alexander, the last emperor of the Severan dynasty; Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse B.orn Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus Alexianus in around 208, Alexander was adopted as heir apparent by his slightly older and very u,npopular cousin, Elagabalus, at the urging of Julia Maesa who was the grandmother of both cousins and who had arranged for the emperor's acclamation by the Third Gallica Legion