Elagabalus was born as Varius Avitus Bassianus but called himself Elagablus after an eastern Sun God which he thought himself to be. Elagabalus immersed himself in self-worship, leaving the affairs of the state mostly in the hands of his grandmother Julia Maesa. After be swayed to appoint his cousin as his heir (Marcus Aurelius Alexander), Elagablus later regreted the decision and tried in vain to rid himself of Alexander. However, members of the Praetorian Guard killed him on 222 and proclaimed Alexander as the new emperor.