The Severan dynasty was a Roman imperial dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. The dynasty was founded by the Roman general Septimius Severus, who rose to power as the victor of the 193-197 civil war.
Although largely a peaceful time, the Severan Period was plagued by constant political turmoil and warfare - foreshadowing the imminent total collapse which followed the murder of Alexander Severus in 235 AD, and which we know as the Crisis of the 3rd Century.
One of the characteristic phenomena of this period of Roman history was the very active role played by the empresses and other female family members. This is also reflected in an abundance of coins struck in their name.
Although largely a peaceful time, the Severan Period was plagued by constant political turmoil and warfare - foreshadowing the imminent total collapse which followed the murder of Alexander Severus in 235 AD, and which we know as the Crisis of the 3rd Century.
One of the characteristic phenomena of this period of Roman history was the very active role played by the empresses and other female family members. This is also reflected in an abundance of coins struck in their name.
Lucius Septimius Severus Augustus was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna in the Roman province of Africa, and advanced through the cursus honorum under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus.
Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors. After deposing and killing the incumbent emperor Didius Julianus, S...
Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors. After deposing and killing the incumbent emperor Didius Julianus, S...
Iulia Domna was Empress consort of the Roman Empire, being wife to the Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Emperors Geta and Caracalla.
Julia was famous for her prodigious learning as well as her extraordinary political influence, and is remembered for being a patron of the arts, music, and philosophy, using her title and influence to spread the previously persecuted Ph...
Julia was famous for her prodigious learning as well as her extraordinary political influence, and is remembered for being a patron of the arts, music, and philosophy, using her title and influence to spread the previously persecuted Ph...
Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, was Roman emperor from AD 198 to 217.
He was the eldest son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, and reigned jointly with his father from 198 until Severus' death in 211. Caracalla then ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta, until he had Geta murdered later that year.
Caracalla's reign was marked by domestic instability and e...
He was the eldest son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, and reigned jointly with his father from 198 until Severus' death in 211. Caracalla then ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta, until he had Geta murdered later that year.
Caracalla's reign was marked by domestic instability and e...
Publia Fulvia Plautilla was the only wife of the Roman emperor Caracalla, who was her paternal second cousin. This was a politically arranged marriage, meant to strengthen the position of Plautilla's father, the Praetorian Prefect Gaius Fulvius Plautianus.
Plautilla and Caracalla had a very unhappy marriage. At first, they barely tolerated each other but later, they would not even be se...
Plautilla and Caracalla had a very unhappy marriage. At first, they barely tolerated each other but later, they would not even be se...
Geta was Roman emperor alongside his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209, and until 211 when he was murdered by Caracalla.
Following Geta's assassination, Caracalla ordered his brother's name to be removed from all inscriptions. The now sole emperor also took the opportunity to get rid of his political enemies, on grounds of conspiracy. Cassius Dio stated ...
Following Geta's assassination, Caracalla ordered his brother's name to be removed from all inscriptions. The now sole emperor also took the opportunity to get rid of his political enemies, on grounds of conspiracy. Cassius Dio stated ...
Marcus Opellius Severus Macrinus Augustus was Roman Emperor from April 217 to 8 June 218.
He was appointed Praetorian Prefect by Caracalla, after having served for decades as a skilled lawyer and bureaucrat. When it was prophesied that he would depose and succeed the emperor, Macrinus - fearing for his safety - resolved to have Caracalla murdered before he was condemned.
In t...
He was appointed Praetorian Prefect by Caracalla, after having served for decades as a skilled lawyer and bureaucrat. When it was prophesied that he would depose and succeed the emperor, Macrinus - fearing for his safety - resolved to have Caracalla murdered before he was condemned.
In t...
Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus Augustus was the son of the Roman Emperor Macrinus, and served his father briefly as Caesar (May 217–218) and as Augustus (in 218).
The name stems from him being born with a caul that formed a 'diadem'.
Diadumenian had little time to enjoy his position or to learn anything from its opportunities because the legions of Syria revolted and...
The name stems from him being born with a caul that formed a 'diadem'.
Diadumenian had little time to enjoy his position or to learn anything from its opportunities because the legions of Syria revolted and...
Elagabalus was Roman emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan dynasty, he was the second son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. He was called Elagabalus only after his death.
Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos. He replaced the traditional head of the Roman pantheon, Jupiter, with the deity Elagabalus, of whom he had been hi...
Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos. He replaced the traditional head of the Roman pantheon, Jupiter, with the deity Elagabalus, of whom he had been hi...
Julia Maesa was a Roman citizen and daughter of Gaius Julius Bassianus, priest of the sun god Heliogabalus, the patron god of Emesa (modern Homs) in the Roman province of Syria.
As the grandmother of both the Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus, she figured prominently in the ascension of each to the title at the age of fourteen. She was also the maternal aunt of the empero...
As the grandmother of both the Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus, she figured prominently in the ascension of each to the title at the age of fourteen. She was also the maternal aunt of the empero...
Julia Soaemias Bassiana was a Syrian noblewoman and the mother of Roman emperor Elagabalus.
In 217, her cousin the Roman emperor Caracalla was killed and Macrinus ascended to the imperial throne. Together with her mother, Julia plotted to replace Macrinus with her second son, Bassianus. To legitimise this plot, they spread the rumour that the thirteen-year-old boy was Caracalla's illegi...
In 217, her cousin the Roman emperor Caracalla was killed and Macrinus ascended to the imperial throne. Together with her mother, Julia plotted to replace Macrinus with her second son, Bassianus. To legitimise this plot, they spread the rumour that the thirteen-year-old boy was Caracalla's illegi...
Julia Cornelia Paula was Empress of Rome from 219-220.
In early 219, Julia Maesa, eldest sister of Roman Empress Julia Domna, arranged for Cornelia Paula to marry her grandson, the new emperor Elagabalus. Their wedding was lavishly celebrated in Rome. Cornelia Paula became Elagabalus' first wife and was given the honorific title of Augusta and the family name "Julia".
In late...
In early 219, Julia Maesa, eldest sister of Roman Empress Julia Domna, arranged for Cornelia Paula to marry her grandson, the new emperor Elagabalus. Their wedding was lavishly celebrated in Rome. Cornelia Paula became Elagabalus' first wife and was given the honorific title of Augusta and the family name "Julia".
In late...
Iulia Aquilia Severa was the second and fourth wife of Emperor Elagabalus.
Severa was a Vestal Virgin and, as such, her marriage to Elagabalus in late 220 was the cause of enormous controversy — traditionally, the punishment for breaking the thirty-year vow of celibacy was death by being buried alive.
Both marriages were quickly revoked, probably on the urging of Julia Maesa....
Severa was a Vestal Virgin and, as such, her marriage to Elagabalus in late 220 was the cause of enormous controversy — traditionally, the punishment for breaking the thirty-year vow of celibacy was death by being buried alive.
Both marriages were quickly revoked, probably on the urging of Julia Maesa....
Annia Aurelia Faustina was an Anatolian Roman noblewoman. She was briefly married to the Roman emperor Elagabalus in 221 and thus a Roman empress. She was Elagabalus' third wife.
The reason for their marriage is believed to be her ties to the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Elagabalus gave her the title of Augusta. In the end of 221, Elagabalus divorced her and returned to Julia Aquilia Severa,...
The reason for their marriage is believed to be her ties to the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Elagabalus gave her the title of Augusta. In the end of 221, Elagabalus divorced her and returned to Julia Aquilia Severa,...
Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235 and the last emperor of the Severan dynasty.
As emperor, Alexander's peace time reign was prosperous. However, Rome was militarily confronted with the rising Sassanid Empire and growing incursions from the tribes of Germania.
He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus in 222, and was ultimately assassinated h...
As emperor, Alexander's peace time reign was prosperous. However, Rome was militarily confronted with the rising Sassanid Empire and growing incursions from the tribes of Germania.
He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus in 222, and was ultimately assassinated h...
Julia Avita Mamaea was a Roman regent.
When Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers, imperial favor fell on Alexander, Julia's son. He became emperor in 222, following Elagabalus' murder by the Praetorian Guard.
Julia and her mother became regents in the name of Alexander, then 14 years old. He never managed to escape her maternal domination, but a...
When Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers, imperial favor fell on Alexander, Julia's son. He became emperor in 222, following Elagabalus' murder by the Praetorian Guard.
Julia and her mother became regents in the name of Alexander, then 14 years old. He never managed to escape her maternal domination, but a...
Seia Herennia Sallustia Barbia Orbiana Augusta was an Empress of the Roman Empire and briefly the wife of Emperor Severus Alexander. She was known for her beauty, which was captured in multiple works of art.
In August 225, at about the age of 16 years, she wed Roman Emperor Severus Alexander in an arrangement organized by the emperor's mother, Julia Mamaea.
After Orbiana wa...
In August 225, at about the age of 16 years, she wed Roman Emperor Severus Alexander in an arrangement organized by the emperor's mother, Julia Mamaea.
After Orbiana wa...