The Severans
In the early 3rd century, Rome was ruled by the family of the Severans. In 193 AD, the army of
proclaimed him emperor, and after marching on Rome by 194 the empire was his. Married to
in 187, he named their first son,
Caesar in 195, and Augustus in 198. His promotion led
,
the brother of
and the second son of
and
to become Caesar at the same time. Although only a year younger,
himself wouldn't be named Augustus by
until 209. This only increased the rivalry between
and
until the murder of
by
in 211, not many months after the death of their father
while on a campaign in Britainnia. Although
married
in 202 when he was just 14, he disliked both his father-in-law (who had made enemies of
's
relatives) and wife and had them murdered in 205.
survived the attempt, but was divorced, exiled, and died six years later.
himself was assasinated in 217 by a usurper.
,
rather than wishing to live within the new arrangement, committed suicide.
's sister,
,
not long after proclaimed that her grandson,
,
was the natural son of the late
, which wasn't actually true.
As
had been popular with the army, that encouraged revolt against the usurper and
became Augustus in 218.
soon however became unpopular because of his sexual depravity and religious fanaticism, both encouraged
by his sexually promiscuous mother,
,
the elder daughter of
.
,
seeing the turn of events, arranged for the promotion to Caesar of
,
her grandson by her younger daughter
.
By 222 they were so hated by the populace that both
and
were murdered by a mutinied Praetorian guard, their bodies dragged through the streets, and dumped
in the river Tiber.
,
with the support of the people, became the new emperor and
became Augusta in place of her now deceased sister.
Although a pleasant person,
was not interested in military affairs, and gradually lost popularity. This was exacerbated by the
dominance by the women of his family, such as by his grandmother,
,
who died in 225.
did participate in two military campaigns, but his performance was so lackluster - even to the extent of
hoping to buy off the barbarians of upper Germany rather than fight them - that the military rose up
against
and his mother
and murdered them in 235, bringing an end to Severan rule.
Sear. Roman Coins and their Values, Millenium Edition, volume 2. Spink and Son, London, 2002.
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in 187, he named their first son,
Caesar in 195, and Augustus in 198. His promotion led
,
the brother of
in 202 when he was just 14, he disliked both his father-in-law (who had made enemies of
,
not long after proclaimed that her grandson,
,
was the natural son of the late
,
the elder daughter of
,
her grandson by her younger daughter
.
By 222 they were so hated by the populace that both