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PEOPLE AND PERSONALITIES OF ROME

Septimius Severus

Key information:

Official Name: IMPERATOR CAESAR LUCIUS SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX AUGUSTUS

Birthdate: April 11, 145 CE.

(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 1)

Birthplace: Leptis Magna, Libya.

(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 1)

Reign: Declared emperor by his troops in Carnuntum (city in modern-day Austria) in April 193 CE.  

(Herodian 2.10) (Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 5)

Marriages:

Paccia Marciana (175-186 CE)

(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 3)

Julia Domna (187-211 CE)

(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 3)

While she was living in Emesa, Syria, an astrologer predicted that Julia Domna would marry a king. After hearing this prophecy, Septimius Severus sought her out and they married in 187 CE. Their marriage was a happy one, lasting over twenty years. During his life, Septimius Severus gave Julia Domna several prestigious titles such as Augusta, Mater Augustus (Mother of Augustus), and Mater Castrorum (Mother of the Camp).

(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 3)

(RIC IV Septimius Severus 161B)

(RIC IV Septimius Severus 563B)

(RIC IV Septimius Severus 562)

Children:

Caracalla (son by Julia Domna)

Geta (son by Julia Domna)

(Cassius Dio, Roman History, 77.7)

Death: Septimius Severus died of natural causes in Eboracum (modern-day York, England). He died on February 4, 211 CE.

(Cassius Dio, Roman History, 77.15) (Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 18)

Bust of Septimius Severus, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, October 2019
Bust of Septimius Severus, Roma Universalis Exhibition, Rome, February 2019
Bust of Septimius Severus, NY Carlsberg Glyptothek, Copenhagen, September 2018

Famous facts and dates

193
Septimius Severus fought and won three civil wars during his time as emperor. In 193 CE he defeated Didius Julianus, in 194 CE he defeated Pescennius Niger, and in 197 CE he defeated Clodius Albinus.
(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 5-10)
197
In 197 CE, Septimius Severus led a successful military campaign against the Parthian Empire. To celebrate his victory, he constructed a triumphal arch in the Roman forum which still stands today.
(Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 16)
208
In 208 CE, Septimius Severus led a successful military campaign in Caledonia (modern-day Scotland). This would be his last campaign, as he fell ill in Eboracum (modern-day York) and died in 211 CE.
(Herodian 3.14) (Cassius Dio, Roman History, 77.15) (Historia Augusta, Life of Septimius Severus, 18)
211
The last words of Septimius Severus were spoken to his sons, Caracalla and Geta, who would succeed him as emperor. He told them “be harmonious to each other, enrich the soldiers, and scorn all other men."
(Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 77.15)

 

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Cite this page as: Darius Arya, The American Institute for Roman Culture, “Septimius Severus,” Ancient Rome Live. Last modified 1/6/2023. https://ancientromelive.org/SeptimiusSeverus/

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