(145-211 C. E.) Emperor from 193 to 211 and founder of a dynasty that influenced the Roman Empire from 193 to 235 Severus was born at lepcis magna in Tripolitania, to Publius Septimius Geta and Fulvia Pia, both members of successful families in the Equestrians (equites) and the SENATE. After an unclear early career he became a quaestor of Rome around 169, later returning to Lepcis Magna, where he married Paccia Marciana, who died childless after several years. The tribune of the Plebeians in 174, he was praetor in 177 and a legate in SYRIA by 180. Emperor commodus removed him after approximately two years.
The major turning point in his advancement came in 184 when he was reinstated as an imperial favorite, receiving the post of governor of Gallia Lugdunensis and several years later of Sicily; he was also married, to the formidable julia Domna, the Syrian noblewoman who gave him two sons, caracalla in 188 and geta in 189. Consul in 190, he was made governor of pannonia Superior in 191. Severus was still there in 192 when Commodus was assassinated and succeeded by Pertinax. The new emperor did not last long, and his death in 193 resulted in the auctioning off of the empire by the praetorian GUARD to DIDIUS JULIANUS, the highest bidder. Knowing that the sanctity of the throne had been violated, that omens and prophecies had predicted his rise to the purple and that he had the perfect solution militarily, Severus accepted the SALUTATIO from his troops. Hailed at Carnuntum, he and his legions marched to ROME, where Didius Julianus was sentenced to death and executed by the Senate. once in the capital he entrenched himself politically by disbanding the Guard and forming a new,
A gold aureus of Septimius Severus, struck 201 c. e. in Rome (Courtesy Historical Coins, Inc.)
Larger one with the select soldiery of the Danubian legions. The vigiles and urban cohorts were increased in size as well.
His position as emperor was not universally accepted, for pescennius Niger, governor of Syria, claimed the empire, and clodius albinus, governor of Britain, was another obvious candidate. To gain time against the more dangerous Niger, Severus offered Albi-nus the rank of Caesar, with the obvious implication that he would be the heir. Albinus accepted this position, allowing Severus to launch his war with Niger. Crushing the Eastern claimant at the battle of ISSUS in 194, Severus turned on Albinus in 196, and at lugdunum (Lyons) the governor of Britain was destroyed. Severus was now sole master of the Roman world, but the civil war had caused great ruin, both in terms of fighting and in the political executions necessary to bring the Senate and bureaucracy under heel. Once he had liquidated all possible enemies, Caracalla was designated as his heir, later joined by Geta.
There was little time to enjoy the comforts of Rome for war with Parthia was deemed essential. From 197 to 199, he waged a successful war of vengeance against Parthia for its support of Niger. ctesiphon, the capital, fell, and Mesopotamia was seized and became a Roman province. visits to Syria and Africa ended in 203 with a triumphal return to Rome. In celebration of his tenth imperial year, two arches were erected, one in Lepcis Magna and the other in Rome. The gift to Lepcis was typical of his attentions to African cities, especially his hometown, which would know no brighter moment. From 203 until 207/8, Severus remained at Rome, falling under the influence of his own Prefect of the praetorian GUARD, PLAUTIANUS. Plautianus was allowed vast powers until 205, when Caracalla, who was forced to marry the prefect’s daughter, led a coup that brought down the ambitious minister.
Troubles appeared in Britain as the local tribes, especially the Caledonians, had pushed beyond the wall of ANTONINUS. In 208, Severus and Caracalla invaded Caledonia while Julia Domna and Geta remained behind at Eburacum (York). Fighting relieved the pressure on the frontier but did not make a long-lasting impression. Planning another attack, Severus fell ill at Eburacum in 211 and died. He had taken care to promote Geta as Cara-calla’s equal, reportedly telling them both on his deathbed: “Cooperate with each other, pay the soldiers and hate everyone else.” His plea was well in keeping with the policies of the Severan regime. The legions now numbered 33, with vast units of numeri or irregular troops. The army, especially the centurions and officers, was deliberately cultivated to be loyal totally to the central government—namely, the emperor himself. He had won the throne because of them and never forgot where his true source of authority rested.
Further, the power of the imperial administration was widened throughout the empire, as was seen in the field of law When Plautianus fell, his replacements would include the eminent jurists ulpian and papinian. Both did much to improve Roman legalism while Julia Domna kept alive intellectualism and artistry in the midst of a seemingly martial reign. Ultimately, Severus helped provide enough stability to the empire to ensure its survival, even in the hands of Caracalla and in the crises of the third century c. e.
Suggested Reading: Birley, Anthony R. Septimius Severus: The African Emperor. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1989.
Severus, Sextus Julius Consul in 127 c. e.; governor in numerous provinces under Emperor Hadrian and general Severus was a member of the Equestrians (equites) from Dalmatia. After serving as legate in moesia and Cappadocia, he was sent to Britain as its governor. Known by Hadrian to be reliable, he was ordered (c. 132) to judaea to take command of the legions there in the campaign to suppress the rebellion of Simon bar cochba. From 132 to 135 he waged a ruthless but successful campaign in PALAESTINA, crushing the uprising while devastating the prince. With pacification complete, he was made the first governor of Syria Palestine.
S everus, Sulpicius (c. 363-420 c. e.) Christian historian B orn in Aquitania, Severus came from a noble family, studying law before converting to Christianity aro un d 389. When his wife died in 392, he re t i red to the life of a monk, transforming his estates into an ascetic haven under the influence of St. martin of tours. After a brief involvement with Pelagianism, he died sometime aro u n d 420. He was the author of two important histories. one was a biography of St. Martin, composed during
M arti n’s life but finished and published after the saint’s death. The other, more important work, was a universal c h ronicle covering Christian events from creation to 400 C. E. In excellent Latin, it is a useful source on the events of the fourth century, especially Priscillianism (see P RI SCI llian) .
World History
