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Book excerpt: The four-year reign of the divine Elagabalus, a most unusual, often outrageous, Roman emperor, as seen through the eyes of his loyal Praetorian bodyguard... First published in 1960, this is the story of Elagabalus, named after the Syrian Sun god and sky-stone. At thirteen years he led his army victoriously against the might of the Emperor of Rome. He was a god-like young man: strong, beautiful, charming, and beloved of his soldiers. Once established as Emperor though, his family sought to influence him, but he rejected them, and they, like the Senate, became his deadly enemies. Through the story of this unusual and outrageous man we see the background of third century AD Roman Empire—the power of family and dynastic ties, and the struggle between autocratic ruler and his advisers.