Severus and the Fall of Rome: The historian Edward Gibbon blames the Roman emperor Severus for the fall of Rome because he annexed northern Mesopotamia into the Roman Empire and paid substantial bonuses to his soldiers. This added unneeded military and financial burdens to Rome.
Occupation: Ruler
Birth and Dates: Septimius Severus
was born in Africa, at Leptis Magna, on April 11, 145, and died in York, on February 4, 211, after reigning for 18 years as Emperor of Rome.
Sources: Septimius Severus is described in the Historia Augusta, Cassius Dio and Herodian.
Reputation: Severus' reign was considered bloody but he also restored stability to Rome after the reign of Commodus.
Assumption of Power: As a military man, Septimius Severus came to Rome with an armed force and assumed the position of emperor.
Early Career: Septimius was helped in his career by an introduction to Marcus Aurelius and entry into the Senate arranged by one of his cousins. He was a quaestor in Sardinia, went to Africa as legate, and to Rome as tribune of the plebs. Under Commodus, Septimius was praetor, then served in Spain, Gaul (where he married Julia Domna), Syria, Sicily and Upper Pannonia. When Pertinax was assassinated on 28 March 193 Septimius was declared emperor in Pannonia.
Severan Dynasty: The Severan Dynasty consisted of Septimius Severus and his sons Geta and Caraclla.
