Roman Emperor, Husband of Julia Domna, Father of Caracalla and Geta
Septimius Severus was born in the Roman province of Africa; he grew up advancing through the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus was aged in his 30s when he married Paccia Marciana which lasted ten years until she died in 186. He wanted to remarry as he was still childless, he heard of a woman from Syria who had been predicted to marry a king. He married Julia Domna in 188, their marriage was happy and he liked her having political opinions, she was well read and interested in philosophy. She also gave him a network of contacts in the east. They had two sons Caracalla and Geta.
Severus was Roman Emperor from 193-211 succeeding Didius Julianus, during the Year of the Five Emperors. His relationship with the Senate was poor and he was unpopular due to seizing power with the help of the military. Severus was a military man and gave the soldiers a pay rise and permitted them to marry. He had a large number of Senators executed and refused them a trial, he replaced them with his favourites. He was popular with Roman citizens after getting rid of the corruption in the reign of Commodus. He visited and reformed the eastern provinces, as well as Egypt and extended control in North Africa. A number of Christian persecutions took place during his rule.
In 208, Severus travelled to Britain with his sons, there he repaired Hadrian’s Wall and then invaded Caledonia (Scotland). He fell fatally ill in York, withdrew and died.
After his death he was succeeded by his sons who acted as joint rulers and were advised by their mother. Caracalla murdered his brother Geta who died in his mother’s arms to gain solo power, he later was murdered by a soldier whilst urinating in 217.
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