Septimius Severus in Roman Biography

Severus, [Fr. Severe, sa'vaiR',j(Lucius Septimius,) a Roman emperor, born at Leptis, in Africa, in 146 A.D. He was educated at Rome, and, after filling various offices, became proconsul of Africa. While commander of the Pannonian legions in Germany, he heard of the death of Commodus, upon which he hastened to Rome, and was proclaimed emperor by the army in 193 A.D. in opposition to Didius Julianus, who was soon after assassinated. He next marched against Pescennius Niger, commander of the Syrian legions, who had lately been proclaimed emperor by his troops. He defeated Niger at Issus or Cyzicus in 194, after which he waged war with success against the Parthians. In 197 he gained a decisive victory over Albinus (a rival claimant of the throne) near Lyons. He renewed the war against Parthia in 198, defeated the Parthians, and took Ctesiphon, their capital. In 208 he led an army to Britain to subdue the Caledonians, and built a rampart, called the wall of Severus, extending across the island. He died at York in 211 A.D., leaving two sons, Caracalla and Geta. See Dion Cassius, " History of Rome." books xxiv.-xxvi. : Gibbon, "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire;" "Nouvelle Biographie Gdne'iale."

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