Introduction
This article will focus on the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. He became Emperor in the year 193 CE. He was the Father of Caracalla and Geta as well as the Husband of Julia Domna. We will cover his early life, How he became Emperor of Rome, his decisions and character, The Severin Dynasty, his death, and a little bit about the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus denarius.
Early Life
Septimius Severus was born on the 11th of April, 145 CE. He was born at Leptis Magna, which was located in what is modern-day Libya. He would spend most of his early years in Leptis Magna. This led to him being fluent in Punic, Latin, and Greek.
Because of where he was born, Septimius had no political standing within the Empire. He would have to work hard in order to climb the ranks of Roman political power.
Even though his family was considered wealthy and influential, this didn’t help Septimius Severus as he made his long political climb to Emperor of Rome.
Roman Emperor Septimius Severus
Septimius started his public career in the year 162AD. Over the years, his career advanced through the standard offices of a public official. During the last year of Emperor Commodus’s reign, Septimius Severus was appointed governor of what would include Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia.
Following the assassination of Commodus, and the Praetorian Guards’ assassination of Pertinax. This started what would become known as the “Year of the Five Emperors”. During this time Septimius’s legion called for him to be emperor, and two other legions from the area joined in with Septimius’s legion. With this support, Septimius Severus made his way to Rome to claim the title of Emperor.
Decision and Character
Septimius Severus had good relations with the Empire’s citizens throughout his reign. Even though historians consider him more of a military dictator than a proper emperor. He enriched the soldiers and the citizens, this was just one of the reasons the ordinary citizens liked him.
This was not the case with the Senate. Septimius had extremely poor relations with the senate. When he gained power, he had numerous senators assassinated under charges of corruption or because they were plotting against him.
The Severin Dynasty
Septimius Severus was the first Emperor of the Severin Dynasty. The Dynasty would include The Roman Emperors Caracalla, Geta, Elagabalus, and Alexander Severus.
The Dynasty had many powerful women as well. The dynasty’s matriarchy included Julia Domna, Julia Soaemias, Julia Mamae, and finally Julia Maesa.
In total, the Severin dynasty ruled Rome starting in 193 CE and ending in 235 CE. Overall the Severin dynasty had good relations with the military and everyday citizens. Mainly due to the advice passed down by Septimius.
Many emperors from the Severin Dynasty spent most of their rule outside Rome because of its poor relationship with the Roman Senate and their interest in military conquest.
Downfall and Death
In 208 CE, Septimius started a campaign in Britain to take over Caledonia. During the first few years, Septimius and his soldiers had many hardships and losses. They were so unprepared for the landscape they ended up losing soldiers to inept preparation for the journey rather than battles alone.
Sometime in the year 211 CE Septimius Severus fell ill. This resulted in him pulling back from his campaign to what we know as modern-day York. He would eventually die from the illness in York.
That would be the end of Septimius Severus’s campaign in Britain. It is thought that his final words to his two sons were “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn all others” before he died.
Roman Denarius
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