 Meanwhile, Maximinus was on the verge of marching on Rome and the Senate elected Pupienus and Balbinus as joint emperors.These senators were not popular men and the population of Rome was still shocked by the elder Gordians' fate, so the Senate decided to take the teenage Gordian, rename him Marcus Antonius Gordianus like his grandfather, and raise him to the rank of "Caesar" and imperial heir.Pupienus and Balbinus defeated Maximinus, mainly due to the defection of several legions, particularly the II "Parthica", who assassinated Maximinus.