SEVERUS, L. SEPTIMIUS, Roman emperor, was born April 11, 146 A.D.. near Leptis Magna, on the n. coast of Africa, of a family of equestrian rank; and, after receiving an excellent education, removed to Rome, where he became praetor. 178 A.D. He was subsequently commander of a legion in Gaul, and governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Pannonia, and other provinces. After the murder of Pertinax he was proclaimed emperor, 193 A.D., at Carnutum, and promptly marched upon Rome, wliere the puppet Julianus had by purchase obtained the imperial purple. His arrival before Rome was the death-signal for Julianus; and after takiiig vengeance on the murderers of Pertinax, his most formidable rival, Clodius Albinus, into an ally by creating him Cesar, and distributing an extravagant largess to his soldiers, he marched against Pescennius Niger, and conquered him at Issus, 195 A.D. A glorious campaign in the east, and a three years' siege, followed by the capture of Byzantium, were followed by a desperate struggle with his jealous rival, Clodius Albinus, whom, after an obstinate conflict at Lyons, in which 150,000 were engaged on each side, he conquered, 197 A.D. The usual games to the degenerate citizens of Rome, and largesses to the troops, fol lowed, after which Severus returned to Asia, accompanied by his sons Caracalla and Geta, met with the most brilliant success in the campaign of 198 A.D. against the Par
thians, and took and plundered•their capital, Ctesiphon. After a war with the Arabs, in which Severus's usual good fortune deserted him, and a general visit to his various eastern dominions, he returned to Rome, 202 A.D., and gratified the popular taste by the exhibition of shows of unparalleled magnificence, also distributing another extravagant largess to the citizens and praetorians. A rebellion in Britain drew him to that country in 208 A.D. ; and, at the head of an immense army, he marched, it is said, to the extreme n. of the island, encobntering enormous hardships, to which no less than 50,000 of his soldiers succumbed, and securing no permanent advantages. To secure to some extent the natives of s. Britain from the' incursions of the Meatre and Caledonians, Severus commenced the wall which bears his name, and died soon after at York, Feb. 4, 211 A.D. Severus was an able, vigorous, and just ruler, and a skillful warrior, but totally devoid of high moral sentiment, a dificiently especially observable in cases where Ms own interests were involved. •