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Roman Emperor Septimius Severus

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Roman Emperor Septimius Severus

AD 212 - 217

Lucius Septimius Severus, born on April 11. 146 near Leptis in Africa, was a soldier of outstanding ability. Holding a series of increasingly important commands until at the death of Commodus he was Comander-In-Chief of the army in Pannonia and Illyria. He expressed his allegiance to Pertinax, but on the murder of the latter and the shameful elevation of Didius Julianus, which caused much indignation, Severus was saluted Emperor by the troops at Carnuntum. He rapidly disposed of Didius and Pescennius Niger, and later attacked and destroyed Clodius Albinus who had been hailed as Emperor by the legions in Gual. Severus spent much of his reign in campaigning in different parts of the Empire, and in 208 A.D. he came to Britain where he repaired the wall of Hadrian, and invaded Caledonia without much success. He died at York on February 4, 211.