Severus
Also found in: Dictionary, Legal, Wikipedia.
Related to Severus: Alexander Severus, Septimius Severus
Severus
orSeptimius Severus
(Lucius Septimius Severus) (sĕptĭm`ēəs sēvē`rəs), 146–211, Roman emperor (193–211), b. Africa. He was campaigning in Pannonia and Illyria when the emperor CommodusCommodus(Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus) , 161–192, Roman emperor (180–192), son and successor of Marcus Aurelius. In 180, reversing his father's foreign policy, he concluded peace with the German and the Sarmatian tribes and returned to his licentious pleasures in
..... Click the link for more information. was murdered. His successor, PertinaxPertinax
(Publius Helvius Pertinax) , 126–193, Roman emperor (193), b. Liguria. Formerly a general, he reluctantly succeeded Commodus on the throne. Attempting to curb license in the Praetorian Guard, he was slain by a soldier, thus ending his brief reign of three months.
..... Click the link for more information. , lasted three months before he too was assassinated. The Pretorian guards arranged the succession of the weak Didius JulianusDidius Julianus
(Marcus Didius Salvius Julianus) , d. 193, Roman emperor (193). He was consul under Pertinax, on whose death the Praetorian Guard received bids for the position of emperor. Didius bid highest and became emperor.
..... Click the link for more information. . With the empire in disarray, Severus marched on Rome. Proclaimed emperor, Severus went to the East to overthrow Pescennius Niger, the governor of Syria, who had also been proclaimed emperor by his legions. Severus defeated (194) the pretender. He took (196) Byzantium and subdued the rebellious Arabs of Mesopotamia. Returning to the West, he defeated (197) Clodius Albinus, another pretender, in Gaul and, returning eastward, attacked and expelled (198) the Parthians from Mesopotamia. In 208, Severus went to Britain. From there he harassed Scotland, but he died at York before completing his plans for a large invasion. Severus built a strong army, increasing the number of legions while eliminating the large commands that had been common for Rome, thus protecting himself against being overthrown while he protected Rome. He ruled with vigor and, when he found it useful, a calculated cruelty. Caracalla succeeded him.
Bibliography
See study by A. R. Birley (1971).
Severus
(Flavius Valerius Severus), d. 307, Roman emperor (306–7). He participated with GaleriusGalerius(Caius Galerius Valerius Maximinianus) , d. 310, Roman emperor (305–10). Diocletian appointed him caesar for the eastern part of the empire in 293 (Constantius I was caesar of the West). He had to conduct hard campaigns in Pannonia and Asia.
..... Click the link for more information. in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow MaxentiusMaxentius
(Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius) , d. 312, Roman emperor (306–12), son of Maximian. After Diocletian and Maximian had retired, the successor to Maximian, Constantius, died.
..... Click the link for more information. . Surrendering to Maximian (father of Maxentius) at Ravenna on the condition that his life be spared, Severus was taken to Rome. He was later, however, treacherously killed by Maxentius.
Severus
Lucius Septimius . 146--211 ad, Roman soldier and emperor (193--211). He waged war successfully against the Parthians (197--202) and spent his last years in Britain (208- -11)