The Severi (193-235) Flashcards
Septimius Severus (193-211)
A Roman of North African origin. he is believed to have been a legal expert not a military man. after a year’s worth of succession troubles Septimius Severus and his army beat and eliminated Didus Julianus.
he discharged the praetorians and created a new guard. he also headed west to fight another pretender to the throne.
Septimius’ wars
in 194 he fought and killed Pescennius Niger, in 195 he warred against Parthians and the Arabian town Hatra. in 197 he killed his last opponent Albinus. in 199 he won the war against Parthians. Northern Mesopotamia was added as a province and Roman empire had reached its greatest extent.
Septimius’ other actions
he reformed Egyptian administration in 200. created three new legions, significantly rose the soldiers’ pay and improved fringe benefits for them. this did result in serious financial problems.
Septimius also confiscated the property of his enemies and others who had fallen out of favour which increased the imperial domains. consequently the familia Caesaris rose in numbers and became more important.
he made it easier for experienced junior officers to rise in ranks and gave knights more influence in administration.
he introduced a tax in kind.
War in Britain
in 208 Septimius went to overthrow the tribes north of Hadrian’s wall and took his sons Caracalla (Antonius) and Geta with him to give them military experience and bury the rivalry between them. he died and his sons inconclusively ended the campaign. their rivalry had only intensified.
roman citizenship for all free inhabitants of the empire
in 212 Carcalla murdered his brother and aimed to win popularity among his troops by raising heir pay even more. then he had to raise his own income by killing rich senators and taking their properties. he also debased silver coinage and introduced a new silver coin antoninianus.
in 212 all free people gained roman citizenship.
Caracalla’s last years
in 213 and 215 Caracalla paid barbarian tribes sums of money to dissuade them from invading the empire.
in 214 Caracalla travelled east; in 215 he was in Egypt and put down riots, in 216 he engaged in a new war with Parthians, in 217 he was murdered.
second half of the Severan era
Macrinus took over from Caracalla (217-218). after his short rule he was succeeded by Elagabalus (218-222). he became very unpopular with his soldiers as he devoted himself to his god. Severus Alexander assumed the throne (222-235). he was much influenced by his mother, a group of conservative senators and a great jurist. this period can be counted as the last one of peace in the empire’s third-century history.
period and its influences
mostly prosperous in provinces despite controversies. it was a period which sharpened contrasts between rival social groups. these unsatisfied feelings contributed to the creation of an unstable political climate.
