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Severan dynasty
The Severan dynasty, sometimes called the Septimian dynasty, ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. It was founded by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211) and Julia Domna, his wife, when Septimius emerged victorious from civil war of 193 - 197, which began with the Year of the Five Emperors. Their two sons, Caracalla (r. 192–217) and Geta (r. 211), ruled briefly after the death of Septimius. In 217 - 218 there was a short interruption of dynasty's control over the empire by reigns of Macrinus (r. 217–218) and his son Diadumenian (r. 218) before Julia Domna's relatives assumed power by raising her two grandnephews, Elagabalus (r. 218–222) and Severus Alexander (r. 222–235), in succession to the imperial office.
The dynasty's women, Julia Domna, the mother of Caracalla and Geta, and her sister, Julia Maesa, the mother of Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, mothers of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander respectively, were all powerful augustae. They were also instrumental in securing imperial positions for their male relatives.
Although Septimius Severus restored peace following the upheaval of the late 2nd century, the dynasty's rule was disturbed by unstable family relationships and political instability, especially the rising power of the praetorian prefects. All this foreshadowed the Crisis of the Third Century.
In April 9 145, Lucius Septimius Severus was born in Leptis Magna, then in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis and now in Libya, into a Roman family of equestrian rank, of Libyan-Punic and Italic origin. He rose through military service to consular rank under the later emperors of the Antonine dynasty[citation needed]. In summer 187 he married a Syrian noblewoman Julia Domna and the marriage produced two boys: Caracalla and Geta. Julia Domna also held a prominent political role in government during her husband's reign[citation needed]. Severus was proclaimed emperor in 193 by his legionaries in Noricum during the political unrest that followed the death of Commodus, and secured sole rule over the empire in early 197, after defeating Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum.
In late 197 Severus fought a successful war against the Parthians, between 208 and 210 he campaigned with success against barbarian incursions in Roman Britain and rebuilt Hadrian's Wall. In Rome, his relations with the Senate were poor, but he was popular with the commoners and with his soldiers, whose salary he raised. Starting in 197, his praetorian prefect, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, was growing in influence, but he would be executed in 205. Septimius died, from natural causes, in early 211 while on campaign in Britain.
During his reign, Severus debased the Roman currency several times -- for example upon his accession he decreased the silver purity of the denarius from 81.5% to 78.5%. The Jews experienced more favorable conditions under the Severan dynasty: According to Jerome, both Septimius Severus and Antoninus "very greatly cherished the Jews."
Septimius was succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta, whom he had elevated as co-emperors in the years preceding his death. The growing hostility between the brothers was initially buffered by Julia Domna's mediation.
The eldest son of Severus, born in 188 as Lucius Septimius Bassianus. "Caracalla" was a nickname referring to the Gallic hooded tunic that he habitually wore. In 195 Severus made him caesar and renamed him to Aurelius Antonius Marcus after Marcus Aurelius. A while later, in 198, Severus made him augustus while also naming Caracalla's younger brother, Geta, to caesar.
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Severan dynasty
The Severan dynasty, sometimes called the Septimian dynasty, ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. It was founded by the emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193–211) and Julia Domna, his wife, when Septimius emerged victorious from civil war of 193 - 197, which began with the Year of the Five Emperors. Their two sons, Caracalla (r. 192–217) and Geta (r. 211), ruled briefly after the death of Septimius. In 217 - 218 there was a short interruption of dynasty's control over the empire by reigns of Macrinus (r. 217–218) and his son Diadumenian (r. 218) before Julia Domna's relatives assumed power by raising her two grandnephews, Elagabalus (r. 218–222) and Severus Alexander (r. 222–235), in succession to the imperial office.
The dynasty's women, Julia Domna, the mother of Caracalla and Geta, and her sister, Julia Maesa, the mother of Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, mothers of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander respectively, were all powerful augustae. They were also instrumental in securing imperial positions for their male relatives.
Although Septimius Severus restored peace following the upheaval of the late 2nd century, the dynasty's rule was disturbed by unstable family relationships and political instability, especially the rising power of the praetorian prefects. All this foreshadowed the Crisis of the Third Century.
In April 9 145, Lucius Septimius Severus was born in Leptis Magna, then in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis and now in Libya, into a Roman family of equestrian rank, of Libyan-Punic and Italic origin. He rose through military service to consular rank under the later emperors of the Antonine dynasty[citation needed]. In summer 187 he married a Syrian noblewoman Julia Domna and the marriage produced two boys: Caracalla and Geta. Julia Domna also held a prominent political role in government during her husband's reign[citation needed]. Severus was proclaimed emperor in 193 by his legionaries in Noricum during the political unrest that followed the death of Commodus, and secured sole rule over the empire in early 197, after defeating Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum.
In late 197 Severus fought a successful war against the Parthians, between 208 and 210 he campaigned with success against barbarian incursions in Roman Britain and rebuilt Hadrian's Wall. In Rome, his relations with the Senate were poor, but he was popular with the commoners and with his soldiers, whose salary he raised. Starting in 197, his praetorian prefect, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, was growing in influence, but he would be executed in 205. Septimius died, from natural causes, in early 211 while on campaign in Britain.
During his reign, Severus debased the Roman currency several times -- for example upon his accession he decreased the silver purity of the denarius from 81.5% to 78.5%. The Jews experienced more favorable conditions under the Severan dynasty: According to Jerome, both Septimius Severus and Antoninus "very greatly cherished the Jews."
Septimius was succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta, whom he had elevated as co-emperors in the years preceding his death. The growing hostility between the brothers was initially buffered by Julia Domna's mediation.
The eldest son of Severus, born in 188 as Lucius Septimius Bassianus. "Caracalla" was a nickname referring to the Gallic hooded tunic that he habitually wore. In 195 Severus made him caesar and renamed him to Aurelius Antonius Marcus after Marcus Aurelius. A while later, in 198, Severus made him augustus while also naming Caracalla's younger brother, Geta, to caesar.