Chapters
| Name | Lucius Septimius Severus |
|---|---|
| Ruled as | |
| Reign | 14 April 193 – 4 February 211 CE |
| Born | 11 April 145/6 CE |
| Died | 4 February 211 CE |
Septimius Severus was born on 11 April 145 or 146 CE in Leptis Magna (present Libya) as Lucius Septimius Severus (Lucius Septimius Severus). It ruled from the year 193 to 211 CE. He won the civil war that broke out after the death of Commodus and stabilized the situation in the state. He started a new Severan dynasty.
Family
He came from a wealthy and respectable family with Punic ancestry pedigree. His father was Publius Septimius Geta, and his mother Fulvia Pia. On the mother’s side he had Italian ancestry, and on the father’s side, Punic.
Severus’ father did not have any important political status; however, his two cousins, Publius Septimius Aper and Gaius Septimius Severus, held the consul’s office during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. His mother’s ancestors belonged to gens Fulvia and were a respected patrician family from Tusculum. For unknown reasons, they moved from Italy to North Africa, where they eventually settled.
Septimius had siblings: the older brother, Publius Septimius Geta and his younger sister, Septimia Octavilla. His maternal cousin was Gaius Fulwius Plautianus, prefect of pretorians and consul.
Political career
C. 162 CE Septimius Severus went to Rome to start his political career. Being recommended by his “uncle” Gaius Septimius Severus, he received the right to enter the senatorial state from the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Becoming a member of the senatorial circle was a precondition to start cursus honorum and, in the future, to take part in the Senate’s proceedings. Regardless of this fact, historians believe that the 60s of the 2nd century CE were full of difficulties for Severus and his political career.
Septimius probably served as a lower official (vigintivir), controlling the condition of roads nearby or in the city and as a lawyer in court. Interestingly, Septimius bypassed the position of the military tribune and was thus forced to delay being a quaestor (possible after reaching the age of 25). At that time, in 166 CE in Rome broke out a plague of measles or smallpox (so-called Antonine Plague).
During the inhibition of his career, Severus decided to return to his home in Leptis, where the climate was healthier and the disease could not spread to such an extent. According to the Augustan History (perceived as an uncertain source), he was hunted for adultery at that time, but the case was finally dismissed. At the end of 169 CE, Severus reached an age that enabled him to be a quaestor. On December 5, he took the office and was officially admitted to the Senate.
Between 170 and 180 CE, Septimius’ actions are mostly unknown. We know, however, that he filled a large number of offices at that time. The Antonine Plague clearly slaughtered the Roman population (including the senatorial state), and therefore the Empire needed as many talented men as possible to take offices. After finishing quaestorship in Rome, Severus was sent to Baetica (southern Spain) with the same mandate. However, chance occurrences prevented him from continuing his function.
At that time his father died, which forced Septimius to leave Then the Mauri tribesmen invaded southern Spain. Control of the province was handed over to the Emperor, while the Senate gained temporary control of Sardinia as compensation. Thus, Septimius Severus spent the remainder of his second term as quaestor on the island.
In 173 CE the kinsman of Septimius Severus – Gaius Septimius Severus was appointed proconsul of the Province of Africa. Elder Severus chose his cousin to be one of the two legati pro praetore. With the end of the office, Septimius went to Rome and became the tribune of the plebs, with the distinction of being the candidate (candidatus) of th