Septimius Severus was born in Africa, at Leptis Magna, on April 11, 145, and died in Britain, on February 4, 211, after reigning for 18 years as Emperor of Rome. He came to power by disposing of rivals with a better claim to power than his own. Septimius Severus died peacefully, leaving, as joint successors, his sons Caracella and Geta.

Following the murder of Pertinax, Rome supported Didius Julianus as emperor, but as Severus entered Rome, the supporters of Julianus defected, and soon