PUBLIUS SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, ROMAN EMPEROR By Bill Markham Called the African Emperor, not because he was black. He was of Phoenician background (his father was Punic and his mother Roman/Italian). The Phoenicians colonized parts of North Africa and founded Carthage in about 800 BCE. Carthage and Rome fought the Punic wars of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, with Rome being the victor. Carthage was destroyed in 146 BCE. Born in Lepcis Magna, North Africa, 145AD The ruins of this city can still be seen. Severan Dynasty Began with Severus‟ accession to power and ended in 235 CE with the murder of Alexander Severus, his great-nephew. Both Alexander Severus and his mother, Julia Mamaea, were murdered. Early Career Made a senator by the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Quaestor of Sardinia and then a Tribune. (Quaestor was any public official responsible for finance and administration in various areas of the government and the military. Tribune was an officer elected by the plebeians to protect their rights from arbitrary acts of the patrician magistrates.) Married Julia Domna (his second wife, a Syrian) – they had two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Appointed commander of the Legions in Pannonia by Commodus. Commodus, Emperor (177–192) He was the son of Marcus Aurelius, whose reign was mostly taken up in war with the Germans. Marcus Aurelius wrote his Meditations at this time. Was not such an able administrator as was his father. Spent a lot of his time fighting as a gladiator in the arena – he never lost. Lavished and spoilt the Praetorian Guard so as to remain in power. Murdered. Pertinax, Emperor (January – March 193) Tried to reintroduce discipline to the Praetorian Guard, which they resented and murdered him. The Guard then auctioned the Empire to the highest bidder. The final bidding was down to Julianus and Sulpicianus. Julianus won the auction for the Roman Empire. Didius Julianus, Emperor (April – June 193) Was very unpopular from the beginning of his reign. Severus was proclaimed Emperor by his troops in Panonnia – marched on Rome and was installed by his troops in Julianus‟ place. Julianus was assassinated. Civil wars in the quest for the throne Severus confronted and defeated his rivals, Pescennius Niger, Legate of Syria, at the Battle of Issus (in Syria) and Clodius Albinus, Governor of Britain, at the Battle of Lugdunum (in Gaul). Severus is now undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire in 197AD. Campaigns of Severus Invaded Parthia and sacked Ctesiphon, its capital. The Parthians had provided support to Niger. He built an arch in Rome to commemorate his Parthian victories, which can still be seen. Was awarded the title of Parthicus Arabicus, conqueror of Parthia and Arabia. Parthian campaigns depicted on the arch of Septimius Severus. Treatment of Christians Continued the policies of recent emperors; eg, Marcus Aurelius. Christians were not actively sought out for elimination, as was the policy of some later emperors, Decius, Valerian and Diocletian. Those brought to trial who refused to renounce their Christian faith were liable for execution. Saints Perpetua and Felicitas. Perpetua was a 22 yr old married noble and Felicitas was her slave. They suffered martyrdom in an arena in Carthage together with a number of Christian slaves in 203 CE. Carthage is in the Roman province of Africa. The site of their execution is today marked by a column memorial. Some keys facts of Severus‟s reign He was an able administrator and soldier at heart. He was ruthless in his treatment of his opponents, executing many. Began a tradition of effective emperors elevated to power solely by the military. Increased the number of legions from 25 to 30. This now represented a standing army of 300,000 men, comprising 150,000 legionaries and an equal number of Auxiliary troops (including cavalry). Changed the composition of the Senate from sober and cultured Romans to African half-breeds, Syrian degenerates, and half-civilized peasants from Illyria (modern day Albania and former Yugoslav states). Relaxed some of the restrictions of military life – a source of later problems – see speech. Undertook grand building programs – his Arch, Lepcis Magna and restoration of public buildings in Rome. Campaigns in Caledonia (Scotland) against a confederation of Pictish tribes The name Picts comes from the Latin „Picti‟ meaning painted. The Picts painted their bodies with a blue woad before battle, which they believed this would give them protection. His campaigns culminated in the Great Punitive Expedition of 209–210 CE. The Picts were never brought to battle and relied on ambushes. Cassius Dio, a Roman historian wrote that 50,000 Romans perished in this campaign. Overall, the expedition was a success and the Picts sued for peace. However, the Picts broke the treaty and renewed hostilities. Severus prepared to invade Scotland for the second time with a massive army. His orders to his soldiers: “Let no one escape destruction, not even the babe in the womb of the mother” Severus died in Eboracum (York) in 211AD, aged 66 yrs, exactly 1800 yrs ago. The Picts were saved from extermination, otherwise the history of Scotland could have been very different. Is this history‟s first recorded planned attempt at genocide? Severus on his deathbed is reported to have said to his sons Caracalla and Geta: “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers and scorn all others” Caracalla, Emperor (198–217) Lucius Septimius Bassianus, the elder son of Severus, became Emperor. (His nickname was given after the cloak that he wore.) He had his father‟s vices but none of his ability. Instead of continuing the war against the Picts, he made a peace treaty with them. Ordered the assassination of his brother, Geta, and removed all images of Geta from public monuments (see imperial cameo below). Edict of Caracalla (212 CE) – a declaration that all freeborn inhabitants within the Roman Empire are to become Roman citizens. It is believed he did this so as to collect more revenue from inheritance taxes, which only Roman citizens were liable to pay. He needed to do this to replenish the exhausted treasury. Assassinated. Imperial cameo portrait of Severus and his family. The face of Geta has been eliminated. Crisis of the Third Century AD Invasions by Germanic tribes from the north and Sassanid Persians from the east. Civil wars – rival generals fight to be emperor. As Cassius Dio at the time wrote: “Our kingdom now descends from that of gold to one of iron and rust”. .