Severus, L. SEPTIMIUS

Severus, L. SEPTIMIUS, a Roman emperor and a soldier of great vigour and courage, was born of equestrian rank, near Leptis Magna in Africa, 146 A.D. He became prætor at Rome in 178, and was at length appointed to the command of the army in Pannonia and Illyria. After the murder of Pertinax (193) he was proclaimed emperor at Carnutum, and promptly marched upon Rome, where the puppet Julianus had by purchase obtained the imperial purple. His arrival before Rome was the death-signal for Julianus; and after taking vengeance on the murderers of Pertinax, converting his most formidable rival, Clodius Albinus, into an ally by creating him Cæsar, and distributing an extravagant largess to his soldiers, he marched against his second rival, Pescennius Niger, and conquered him at Issus (195). A glorious campaign in the East, and the three years' siege and capture of Byzantium, were followed by a desperate struggle with his jealous rival, Clodius Albinus, whom, after an obstinate conflict near Lyons, he conquered (197). After the usual games to the degenerate citizens of Rome and largesses to the troops, Severus returned to Asia, accompanied by his sons Caracalla and Geta, had the most brilliant success in the campaign of 198 against the Parthians, and took and plundered their capital, Ctesiphon. He returned to Rome in 202, and gratified the popular taste by the exhibition of shows of unparalleled magnificence, also distributing another extravagant largess to the citizens and prætorians. A rebellion in Britain drew him thither in 208, and at the head of an immense army he marched, it is said, to the extreme north of the island, encountering enormous hardships. To secure to some extent the natives of South Britain from the incursions of the Meatae and Caledonians, Severus repaired or partially built the wall which is often called after him, and died soon after at Eboracum (York), 4th February 211. Some recent authorities believe that the wall has as much right to bear his name as that of Hadrian; see HADRIAN'S WALL, and G. Neilson's Per Lineam Valli (Glasgow, 1891).—For the emperor ALEXANDER SEVERUS, see that article.