SEVERUS (Lucius Septimius Severus)

• Lucius Septimius Severus was born April 11th, 146, at Leptis Magna (near the modern Homs in Libya).
• He was quaestor militaris in the province of Baetica in Spain in 172 and by 190 became governor of Pannonia.
• When the emperor Commodus was murdered in 192, the Roman consul Publius Helvius Pertinax became emperor, but was murdered 86 days later.
• Severus was acclaimed emperor by his troops and he set off to Rome with his armies.
• Meanwhile, Didius Julianus "bought" the emperorship, but was soon seen off by the Praetorian Guard. Pescennius Niger, the governor of Syria, was also proclaimed emperor by his troops.
• Severus offered Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain, the title of Caesar, to keep him quiet.
• In 194 he defeated Pescennius Niger.
• In 195, he had Albinus declared a public enemy and finally defeated him at a battle near Lugdunum (Lyons). February 19th 197.
• After success against the Parthians who had invaded Mesopotamia, Severus sailed to Britain to put down a revolt there in 208.
• Taking his elder son, Caracalla, with him, he made Eburacum (York) his base for fighting the troublesome Caledonian tribes.
• He died on Febuary 4th 211 at York and was succeeded by his son, Caracalla.