Septimius Severus (193-211 AD)

 

 

CHILDHOOD:

parents were P. Septimius Geta and Fulvia Pia

born in Leptis Magna, Africa on April 11, 145 AD

left for Rome at age of eighteen

 

POLITICAL CONNECTIONS:

uncle C. Septimius Severus was concul in 160 and governor of Numidia in 173-174 and

again in 177

from his mother's side Fulvius Plautianus later became his own praetorian prefect

 

ARRIVAL IN ROME:

given job of a senator by Maecus Aurelius, the present emperor , shortly after his arrival in

Rome

in 169 and 170 he became quaestor

a few years later he became legate for his undle in Numidia

in 175 became tribune or the plebes

177-178 he was preator

after that he moved to Syria as legate for the future emperor, Pertinax

in 185 he went to Gaul as governor of Gallia Domna

a little while later he married Julia Domna based on her horoscope

Caracalla, their first son, was born a little later

189 he was governer of Sicily

later that same year Geta, their second son was born

SEPTIMIUS' REIGN

while governing Upper Pannonia, in 193, Pertinax was killed by his own soldiers

Didius Julianus became emperor

sixty-six days later the Senate agrees to put Septimius Severus emperor

he turned parade into killing ground for those who took part in the death of Pertinax

less than a month into his reign he start the 'wars of sucession'

194 he defeated Niger and combined his own army with his own

the land won was the only addition to the Roman Empire since the time of the Trajan

197 he won a war against Albinus

returned to Rome and killed all supporters of Niger and Albinus

later on he won against the Parthians

in honor of that win the Arch of Severus was placed in the Forum in Rome

Lucius Septimus Severus was killed in 211 by the barbarians in North Britian

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