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Monday, August 17, 2009 - 5:47 AM
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 the soldiers in Italy and
the senators supported Severus; meanwhile, troops in the East
proclaimed Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire Syria's governor Pescennius Niger emperor, and the British
legions, their governor Clodius Albinus. Severus defeated Niger at the Battle of Issus,
and then marched into Mesopotamia, where he set up a new legion and
declared war on Albinus. Even with the legions of Britain, Gaul,
Germany, and Spain, behind him, Albinus still lost to Severus in 197.
The reputation of Septimius Severus changes with the times.
Some consider him responsible for the Fall of Rome. According to
[http://www.virtual-pc.com/orontes/severi/MoranSev193.html, 6/29/99]
Jonathan C. Moran, Gibbon blamed Severus for the changes that led to
turmoil and ultimate decay in Rome. The "De Imperatoribus Romanis"
entry on Severus explains the charge: "by giving greater pay and
benefits to soldiers and annexing the troublesome lands of northern
Mesopotamia into the Roman empire, Septimius Severus brought increasing
financial and military burdens to Rome's government." His reign was
also considered bloody and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, he
may have been involved in the murder of his predecessor, Pertinax. The
Catholic Encyclopedia also says he persecuted the Christians and
forbade conversion to Judaism and to Christianity. Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire
On the other side, Septimius Severus restored stability to the
Roman Empire. He improved performance and increased morale by making
(expensive) changes in the military and praetorian guard. He restored
Hadrian's Wall and was involved in other construction projects. He also
played the part of the traditional emperor:
He reformed the grain supply for the city of Rome.... He put on
games... for the people to keep them diverted and on his side. He freed
his friends from debt and gave donatives to the soldiers and people. He
also heard lawsuits.... Severus also began appointing his own men to
the senate, one the emperor's traditional prerogatives.
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