Marcus Aurelius died on 17 March of this year in Vindobona. The emperor had campaigned in the Danube region for over a decade. The tide of frequent and dangerous Germanic incursions had been turned, but plans to create two new provinces – Marcomannia and Sarmatia – had to be abandoned.…
Commodus and Lucius Antistius Burrus served as consuls for the year 181. Burrus was Commodus’ brother-in-law: he was married to Vibia Aurelia Sabina, Marcus Aurelius’ youngest daughter. The year passed and nothing worth recording happened. The borders were secure, the provinces prospered and the new Augustus seemed to cooperate well…
Although Commodus had started his reign by putting an end to his father’s war against the Germanic tribes, his own rule was not entirely peaceful. There were skirmishes with the Moors in Africa and with Germanic tribes along the Danube, and according to Cassius Dio the emperor “also had some…
In 186 – or a few years later – a badly documented rebellion broke out, usually called the Bellum desertorum. It was led by a deserter from the Roman army, one Maternus. Maternus gathered around him a group of comrades from the army and started to pillage the countryside. At…
Commodus was still quite popular with the people. The several attempts to assassinate him in the previous years had made him a very suspicious man though. Ever since the conspiracy in which the senators Ummidius Quadratus and Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus had been involved, now almost ten years ago, he deeply…
The year started with Publius Helvius Pertinax on the throne, a senator who was the son of a freedman. Pertinax was accepted by the Senate as emperor, and at the same time, the senators declared the slain Commodus an enemy of the state. Both the Senate and the people of…
The previous year ended with Severus’ forces trying to force their way through the Cilician passes in the Taurus Mountains. Initially, they were repelled by strong resistance from Niger’s troops, who were holding excellent strategic positions. However, as the siege of Niger’s positions progressed, the winter weather began to favour…
Still in Syria, Severus decided to cross the Euphrates during the summer months for a punitive expedition into Mesopotomia against the people of Osrhoene and Adiabene. They had revolted against Niger’s forces holding Nisibis – a Roman strongpoint since the campaigns of Lucius Verus – and had killed or captured…
After a siege of almost three years, Severus’ troops managed to capture Byzantium this year (probably late spring, early summer). The city had been an extremely tough nut to crack. The city’s defences were very strong. It had high walls and all sorts of artillery capable of holding back the…
The stage was now set for the final battle of the Civil War of 193-197. After his general Virius Lupus’ defeat against Albinus, Severus took personal command of his army. His forces engaged those of Albinus near Lugdunum (present-day Lyon in France) on 19 February. Cassius Dio claims that there…
The year started with a decisive Roman victory over the Parthians. Their capital Ctesiphon was taken around 28 January after a short siege. The victorious Roman soldiers looted the entire city and took away thousands of women and children as slaves. Herodianus claims the Romans also captured the Parthian king’s…
Now chronology becomes a little hazy, so I may be somewhat off, but my assumption is that Septimius Severus attempted to take Hatra again early this year, when the weather in this part of the world is still mild. The emperor brought with him large stores of food and plenty…
Again, chronology is hazy. It is my take that Severus toured Egypt in 200. Since Egypt was an extremely important province, with extended territories, a long and rich history and much to see, I assume the emperor took his time. The Historia Augusta makes it clear that Severus thoroughly enjoyed…
Now chronology becomes so confused and uncertain that I will discuss multiple years at once. My reconstruction is in large part based on speculation and there are only a few dates that we know for certain. We know that Septimius Severus became consul for the second time on 1 January…
Back in Rome from his African expedition, Severus probably saw the completion of his Triumphal Arch on the Forum Romanum. He may also around this time have ordered the construction of the Domus Severiana on the Palatine Hill, the remains of which can still be seen today. It was an…
In 208, Septimius Severus launched a large military campaign against the Caledonians in Britannia. Cassius Dio writes that the reason for the invasion was that “his sons were changing their mode of life and that the legions were becoming enervated by idleness”. Herodianus’ explanation is a bit more convincing: the…
Septimius Severus died in Eburacum on 4 February. It had been clear for a while that the emperor had been living with one foot in the grave. Herodianus claims that Caracalla tried to persuade the medical staff to be negligent in treating his father, so that he could get rid…
Now that he was sole emperor, Caracalla removed his brother’s name (and face) from all monuments – including the Arch of Septimius Severus on the Forum – and went on a killing spree, having all of Geta’s friends and supporters murdered. Caracalla killed anyone who had ever even remotely sympathised…
In 213, Caracalla was consul for the fourth time. He left Rome for the northern border provinces, and for the next two years he would fight to keep these safe and even strengthen them against Germanic incursions. Again, as with Severus’ Caledonian campaign, very few details have survived. It seems…
Caracalla left Nicomedia in April, after having held gladiatorial games in honour of his birthday (which was 4 April). He moved on to Antiochia, where according to Cassius Dio he indulged in luxurious living. At the end of the summer the emperor reached Alexandria, probably the second or third city…