v32_0286 - SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS Sesterce, (GB, Æ 31)

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS

(13/04/193-4/02/211)

Septimius Severus was born in 146 in Leptis Magna in Africa (Libya). After a brilliant military career under the reigns of Marc Aurèle and Commodus, he was consul suffect in 185. At the time of Pertinax's death, he was governor of Upper Pannonia. Acclaimed emperor on April 13, 193, he quickly eliminated Dide Julien, his compatriot (June 28), and associated Albin with power as Caesar before fighting Pescennius Niger in the East. In 195, he fictitiously entered the Antonine family by being adopted post-mortem. He defeats and executes Niger and leads a brilliant campaign in Arabia. In 197, he got rid of his last adversary, Albin, who proclaimed himself august. Severus prepares the establishment of his dynasty by giving the title of Augusta to Julia, his wife, in 194, of Caesar to Caracalla, in 196, then of Augustus in 198 when Geta, his second son, becomes Caesar. Sévère will spend fifteen years consolidating the borders of the Empire by winning numerous victories over the Parthians (197-198), then in Africa (207) and, finally in Brittany (208-211), where he died..