 marcus julius philippus (;in classical latin, philip's name would be inscribed as marcvs ivlivs philippvs avgvstvs. c. 204 â 249) also known commonly by his nickname philip the arab (, ), also known as philip, was roman emperor from 244 to 249. he was born in present-day syria to a syrian father, and went on to become a major figure in the roman empire. he achieved power after the death of gordian iii, quickly negotiating peace with the sassanid empire. during his reign, rome celebrated its millennium. among early christian writers, philip had the reputation of being sympathetic to the christian faith. it was even claimed that he converted to christianity, becoming the first christian emperor, but this is disputed. he supposedly tried to celebrate easter with christians in antioch, but the bishop babylas made him stand with the penitents.according to john chrysostom philip and his wife received letters from origen.according to eusebius. philip was overthrown and killed following a rebellion led by his successor decius. ==early life== little is known about philip's early life and political career. he was born in what is today shahba, about  southeast of damascus, in the trachonitis district. at the time this was in the roman province of arabia,bowersock, glen w., roman arabia, harvard university press, 1994, pg. 122 earning philip the nickname "the arab". he was the son of a julius marinus, a local roman citizen, possibly of some importance.meckler, philip the arab while the name of philip's mother is unknown, he did have a brother, gaius julius priscus, a member of the praetorian guard under gordian iii (238â244).potter, pg. 232 in 234, philip married marcia otacilia severa, daughter of a roman governor. they had three children, a son named marcus julius philippus severus (philippus ii), born in 238, a daughter called julia severa or severina who is known from numismatic evidence but is never mentioned by the ancient roman sour
249_deaths 3rd-century_Roman_emperors Crisis_of_the_Third_Century Deified_Roman_emperors Imperial_Roman_consuls People_from_al-Suwayda_Governorate Praetorian_prefects Roman_emperors_killed_in_battle