Severan Dynasty

Question 1

Septimius Severus (193 – 211 AD)

Answer 1

African emperor From North Africa: Lepsis Magna

• Good military leader->Keeps barbarians in check, Expands empire, He raises the taxes in Italy
• Died peacefully
• Told not speak with a provincial accent

Question 2

who were Septimius Severus two sons and wife

Answer 2

Caraculla who had his brother Geta killed

his wife was Julia Domna

Question 3

Caracalla (211 – 217 AD)

Answer 3

Son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna
o Had a brother, Geta. They were co-rulers, but Caracalla had Geta killed.
o Generous to the soldiers
o built Lots of baths in Rome
▪ He extends citizenship to freedmen in the empire
changing the divide in Rome to be between Honestiores and Himiliores
▪ Very bad with finances
o Killed by the praetorian guard

Question 4

▪ Damnatio Memoriae

Answer 4

• what Caracalla did to his brother

- it means to Damn of the name and Erase the memory of a person

Question 5

o Honestiories -

Answer 5

More political rights, but must have land

Question 6

o Humiliores -

Answer 6

You have less rights.

Question 7

o who is Juila Maesa

Answer 7

the sister to Julia Domna

Question 8

Elagabalus (218 – 222 AD)

Answer 8

o From Syria his Grandmother is Julia Maesa (JM) and Mother is Julia Soaemias (JS)
o Elegabalus is made the chief priest of the Syrian sun god Elagabal – Where he gets his name
o JM encourages him to keep the priest job and become emperor at 14.
▪ Youngest individual to be made emperor at this point
o Married 4 times – Vestal virgin(Divorces her and marries Faustina, Divorces her and marries the vestal virgin again)
o Brings the sun god to Rome
o He is assassinated and decapitated with his mother and thrown into the Tiber
▪ Takes their sprits away from Rome
o Names his cousin Severus Alexander

Question 9

what dynasty has continuity through the women of the family.

Answer 9

Severan Dynasty

Question 10

Severus Alexander (222-235 AD)

Answer 10

o Mother : Julia Mamaea
o Becomes emperor at 13
o Reigns for 13 years
o Adopted by his cousin
o Youngest emperor in Roman History
o Conflicts with the Persians (Sassanians)
o Connected with the Christian Church Father Origen
▪ His mom wanted him to be tutored in Christianity
o Germanic Threat and was assassinated