Septimius Severus (193-211 AD)
P. Septimius Geta and Fulvia Pia gave birth to an emperor to be, named Lucius Septimius Severus, in Leptis Magma, Africa on April 11, 145 AD. Severus had two cousins who also involved themselves in politics. One of them, C. Septimius Severus, was concul in 160 and governor of Numidia in 173-174, and again in 177. Severus was also related to Fulvius Plautianus who later became his praetorian prefect. He lived in Africa until the age of eighteen at which time he moved to Rome to start his career in politics.
Shortly after Severus's arrival in Rome he was given the job of a senator by the present emperor Marcus Aurelius. Later, in 169, he became quaetor and did so again in 170. A few years later he became legate for his uncle in Numidia. Even after that job he became tribune of the plebes in 175 and praetor in 177-178. He then moved to Syria to continue his career in politics as legate for the future emperor, Pertinax. It was in Syria that he first met his future wife Julia Domna. In 185 Severus went to Gaul as governor of Gallia Lugdenensis. Because Septimius was a strong believer in astronomy, he married Julia Domna as predicted by the horoscope which told that she would marry a great emperor. The newlyweds had their first son, Caracalla, three years later. Septimius did not let these events get in his way of his soon-to-be prosperous career. In 189 he was named governor of Sicily. Later that same year Geta, their second and last son, was born. While governing Upper Pannonia a series of key events took place that pushed Severus to his goal. In 193 Peritinax was killed by dissatisfied soldiers. Immediately after his death Didius Julianus became emperor. A short sixty-six days later, the Senate voted for Septimius to be named emperor. When a soldier went to carry out the decision, he found Julianus in the palace. Herodian described Julianius as, "alone and deserted by everyone" and he was killed "amid a shameful scene of tears." In 193 Septimius Severus was declared emperor of Rome.
Before making his big entrance into his newly won land, Septimius coordinated a parade ordering all to leave their weapons behind. At the parade he executed all who took part in the assassination of his friend Pertinax. Severus had obviously been planning what he would do when he came to power because less than a month into his reign he turned his attention towards his rivals and started four years of battles called the Wars of Succession. Septimius' first victory was against Niger. In 194 Niger's army was defeated and while fleeing Niger was beheaded. Septimius then joined his army with Niger's to help him in his retaliation against the Parthian vassal. The newly won land was the only addition to the empire since the time of the Trajan ninety years earlier. The recent wins scared Albinus so he declared himself Augustus and went to Gaul knowing that he would never defeat Severus. Naturally, the Senate declared him a public enemy. The constant wars that were being made angered the people. Dio wrote what he heard at the chariot races. The crown chanted, "How long are we to suffer such things...How long are we to be waging war?" Despite what the people said, Severus marched against Albinus in 197. Another win was added to Severus' record. After the defeat, Albinus committed suicide. Before Septimius threw his body into the river, he beheaded the carcass and stomped on the body with his horse and sent the head to Rome. Then to finish off his rivals he returned to his empire and killed all the supporters of Niger and Albinus. Twenty-nine senators were killed during this act. And yet again Severus marched Rome into another battle. This time it was against the Parthians. Dio describes Severus' policy so far as, "just as if the sole purpose of his campaign had been to plunder this place." Severus' record was now three to zero. After his win the Senate put up the Arch of Severus in his honor. It was put in the forum in the same spot where he dreamt of Pertinax falling from his horse and himself climbing on the horse for all to see. It was placed diagonally from the Arch of Augustus, which also was erected in honor of him defeating the Parthians. Many Romans connected the present emperor with their first. While fighting the barbarians in North Britain with his sons Septimius Severus died, the only African emperor.
After Severus' death, Caracalla actually killed his brother, Geta,
and allowed the murder of his wife to take place. Caracalla then tried to
follow his father's footsteps but failed. He was killed while battling with
the Parthians. Macrinus then became emperor of Rome.
The arch of Septimius Severus in the Forum in Rome
By Matt B. '02, Germantown Academy