Septimius Severus

Lucius Septimius Severus (145–211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211 and the first emperor from a non-Italian provincial family. Born at Leptis Magna in Africa, he entered the Senate under Marcus Aurelius and in 187 married the Syrian Julia Domna, who bore him Caracalla and Geta.

In the Year of the Five Emperors of 193 he was the last to seize power: he deposed Didius Julianus, beat Pescennius Niger at Issus in 194, and in 197 defeated Clodius Albinus at Lugdunum. He then marched against Parthia, sacked Ctesiphon and pushed the frontier to the Tigris.

In 208 he went to Britain, strengthened Hadrian's Wall and in 209 invaded Caledonia, dying at Eboracum on 4 February 211; the frontier then fell back to the Wall. He is said to have told his sons to enrich the soldiers and scorn everyone else. His sons succeeded him, founding the Severan dynasty.