Septimius Severus was
born in Leptis Magna now in Libya near Tripoli and became the first
African Roman Emperor. His family was rich, equestrian ranked and
distinguished. His mother has Roman ancestry but his father was Punic
(Carthaginian). At the age of seventeen, Septimius Severus gave his
first public speech. Obviously having been taught oratory as part of
his education, he wanted more learning according to Cassius Dio. His
rise to power came under Emperor Commodus when he achieved a
position as a commander for the Pannonian legions by the Danube,
which included parts of modern Austria, Bosnia and Hungary.
Marble bust of
Septimius Severus circa 200 AD
Museum of Art History. Vienna, Austria
Image:pinterest.co.uk
Septimius Severus first marriage was to Paccia Marciana, she was from Leptis Magna. He does not mention her in his autobiography, as Emperor he commemorated her with statues. She died of natural causes circa 186AD. They have no children which survived even though the marriage lasted ten years! Julia Domna, the second wife of Septimius Severus was born in the Roman province of Syria. They both studied astrology, mysticism and philosophy. He spoke several languages including Punic, Latin and Greek.
Museum of Art History. Vienna, Austria
Image:pinterest.co.uk
Septimius Severus first marriage was to Paccia Marciana, she was from Leptis Magna. He does not mention her in his autobiography, as Emperor he commemorated her with statues. She died of natural causes circa 186AD. They have no children which survived even though the marriage lasted ten years! Julia Domna, the second wife of Septimius Severus was born in the Roman province of Syria. They both studied astrology, mysticism and philosophy. He spoke several languages including Punic, Latin and Greek.
Septimius Severus in Scotland
The Northern Campaigns of the First Hammer of the Scots
Since 1975 much new archaeological evidence has come to light to illuminate the immense undertaking of Septimius Severus campaigns in Scotland, allowing for the first time the true story of this savage invasion to be told
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When Commodus was assassinated on the 31st December 192AD, this led to the civil wars of 193AD and the year of the five emperors, Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus (governor of Britannia), and Septimius Severus who on his accession to the throne travelled to Rome. Septimius Severus had his work cut out to stabilise the empire after the chaos of Commodos and the civil war and to try and return it back to the golden age of Marcus Aurelius who died in 180AD, around 13 years earlier. Severus needed the army to stay in power, so he expanded them so much it placed great financial strain on the Roman economy and this impacted on the crisis of the third century a few decades later with near collapse of the empire. Severus raised the annual pay of the soldiers from 300 to 500 denarii and to pay for this he debased the silver coinage which set a precedent for other emperors to debase the coinage in order to pay for the army. Severus's debasement of the Denarius went from 2.15 grams to 1.48 grams which is a 30% reduction in silver. When Septimius Severus was emperor, the Denarius contained 50% silver compared to the 98% silver during the reign of Octavian. On his deathbed, Severus advised his sons ‘Be good to each other, pay the soldiers well, and damn everyone else.’
When Commodus was assassinated on the 31st December 192AD, this led to the civil wars of 193AD and the year of the five emperors, Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus (governor of Britannia), and Septimius Severus who on his accession to the throne travelled to Rome. Septimius Severus had his work cut out to stabilise the empire after the chaos of Commodos and the civil war and to try and return it back to the golden age of Marcus Aurelius who died in 180AD, around 13 years earlier. Severus needed the army to stay in power, so he expanded them so much it placed great financial strain on the Roman economy and this impacted on the crisis of the third century a few decades later with near collapse of the empire. Severus raised the annual pay of the soldiers from 300 to 500 denarii and to pay for this he debased the silver coinage which set a precedent for other emperors to debase the coinage in order to pay for the army. Severus's debasement of the Denarius went from 2.15 grams to 1.48 grams which is a 30% reduction in silver. When Septimius Severus was emperor, the Denarius contained 50% silver compared to the 98% silver during the reign of Octavian. On his deathbed, Severus advised his sons ‘Be good to each other, pay the soldiers well, and damn everyone else.’
A Denarius of Septimius
Severus showing a British Victory on this coin struck at Rome. The legend on the obverse is "SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT" and the reverse
"VICTORIAE BRIT' both showing the abbreviated title
"Britannicus"
Septimius Severus, with his sons Caracalla and Geta, ranked as Caesar's campaigned in Britannia in 208AD. Julia Domna, the second wife of Severus, accompanied her family whilst they were in Britannia. They recaptured territory up to and beyond the Antonine Wall with an army of 50,000 men. This is further north than Hadrian's wall which he repaired too. In 210AD the Picts or northern tribes wanted peace and Severus obliged and took the title “Britannicus” for this victory even though it was short-lived as they revolted soon after. He tried to conquer Scotland and took ill whilst on campaign, so he retreated to Eboracum (modern York), where he ordered his own cremation urn of purple stone. When he saw it he said ‘You will hold a man that the world could not hold.’ He died in York on the 4th of February 211 AD aged 65 and was succeeded by his two sons, Caracalla and Geta and this formed the Severan dynasty. There were rumours that Caracalla had tried to bribe the doctors to hasten his father’s death!
This only preserved
ancient painting shows Septimius Severus with his his wife Julia
Domna and their sons Geta and Caracalla. They wear sumptuous
ceremonial garments and Septimius Severus and his sons are holding sceptres and wearing gold wreaths decorated with precious stones.
Geta's face has been removed, probably after his murder by his
brother Caracalla and the ensuing damnatio memoriae
Septimius Severus and the Roman Army
The assassination of Emperor Commodus in 192 sparked a civil war. Septimius Severus emerged as the eventual victor and his dynasty (the Severans) ruled until 235
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Septimius Severus ruled
the empire like a dictator with help from his sons. Cassius Dio said
that Caracalla and Geta pretended to love each other but behind the
scenes, they hated each other and argued on everything! Only time
would tell if something terrible would happen! He spared no expense
with grand buildings in his home town of Leptis Magna and still, the
ruins are magnificent today! Leptis Magna had a natural harbour and a
busy port! He is one of the few Emperor's who travelled the Empire
from one side to the other! When he died the troops hailed his son's
as joint Emperors and they went back to Rome. Ten months later, 26th
December 211AD Caracalla ordered the Praetorian Guard loyal to him to
murder Geta whilst in the arms of their mother! Less than six years
later, on the 8th of April 217 AD, an officer of his
personal bodyguard assassinated Caracalla while relieving himself at
a roadside near Carrhae (modern Harran, Turkey).
According to Edward Gibbon, Severus began the decline of the Roman Empire!
According to Edward Gibbon, Severus began the decline of the Roman Empire!
The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine
The
third century of the Roman Empire is a confused and sparsely documented
period, punctuated by wars, victorious conquests and ignominious
losses, and a recurring cycle of rebellions that saw several Emperors
created and eliminated by the Roman armies. In AD 260 the Empire almost
collapsed, and yet by the end of the third century the Roman world was
brought back.
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© 2020 David Lee