Select Observations of Roman Emperors 2, Part 1 · Emperor 21 – Emperor 22
Choyce Observations OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS.
HE was one of the 25. Consuls made in one year by Cleander Commodus his favourite.Xiphiline in Commod.
He was an African, of so low birth,Xiphiline. that, when he enrolled himself into the family of Marcus Aurelius, one Pollenius Sebennus is reported to have said, O Caesar, I congratulate thy …ortune, that thou hast found a Father: as if he had not had a Father before, his original being so base and obscure;Tristan. reflecting hereby also upon the chastity of his mother.
Having ascended from mean estate to the highest honour, he was wont to say; Omnia fui, nihil expedit. Spartian in Severo c. 18.
He dreamed that he saw in one of the market-places at Rome a horse to throw Pertinax, Xiphiline.who had mounted on him, and to suffer himself to back him;Herodian. l. 2. c. 9. a brasse Image of which dream remained in Herodians time.
He was expert in the Mathematiques, a good Philosopher, and eloquent oratour.
Nothing is comparable to Severus his conflicts or conquests, either for multitude of forces, commotion of countries, number of battels, length of journeyes, or speed in marches. Herodian l. 3.
His souldiers endured all difficulties cheerfully in emulation of him, who excited them to hardship by his own example, being wont as Silius Italicus saith of Hannibal:
—vertice nudo
Excipere insanos imbres, coelique ruinam.
He was so inured to continual action, that even at his last gasp he said; Is there any thing for me to do? Xiphiline.
In stead of punishing he entertained and rewarded Priscus an Engineer, who did him most mischief in his siege of Byzantium. Xiphiline.
Entring into Alexandria he found this inscription, Domini Nigri est urbs; with which being offended, the inhabitants met him, crying, Novimus nos dixisse Domini Nigri esse urbem; tu enim es Nigri Dominus. For which ready excuse he pardoned them. Suidas in foreign.
When certain of his Officers went about to perswade him to rase out an Epigramme made in commendation of Niger, (at the basis of whose statue it was engraved) he expressed his dislike by these words; Si talis suit, sciant omnes qualem vicerimus; si talis non suit, putent omnes nos vicisse talem: immo sic sit, quia fuit talis. ingenuously and wisely confessing the worth of his enemy. Spartianus in Nigro c. 12.
When he was Lieutenant in Africke, one of his inferiour acquaintance met him going in state with his bundle of rods carried before him, and embraced him familiarly as his quondam chamber-fellow; whom he caused to be beaten, the cryer proclaiming, Embrace not rudely a Roman Lieutenant. From which time Lieutenants have not gone on foot. Spartian.
Plautian his favourite was so great with him, that one of Plautians Officers being commanded by Severus, then at leisure, to plead a cause, refused, saying, He could not do it unlesse Plautian commanded him. Xiphiline.
At the siege of Atra, when he had beaten down a great part of the wall, and his Souldiers were ready to enter, he commanded a retreat, hoping thereby to induce the Arabians to discover that great treasure there laid up. But his covetous designe was miserably disappointed, for the besieged immediately made up their wall and kept him out. Xiphiline.
Being used to get the victory, he now reputed himself conquered, because he could not overcome. Herodian l. 3. c. 9.
When one who lived in Albinus his quarters, would have excused his forced assistance of him to Severus, demanding what he would have done if it had been his own case; Severus answered, Ea perferrem quae tu, I would suffer as you do. Aurel. Vict.
He boasted to the Senate of his clemency, although he slew at one time 40. of the most Illustrious personages of the Roman Empire, not hearing them in their defence, contrary to a Law which himself first made; proving himself thereby truly to answer his name, being (as was said of him) verè Pertinax, verè Severus: so that Silenus might well say, (in Iuliani Caesaribus) I dare not speak against him, I am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty.
10. Antiochenus saith he was a great Souldier, but his covetousnesse transported him beyond his valour.
He was more covetous and cruell then any of his Predecessors. Tristan.
When he warred in Britain, he commanded an universall slaughter of his enemies, in these verses:
foreign
foreign
foreign.
Let none escape your bloudy rage,
With terrour let all die;
Spare not the mother, nor the babe
Which in her womb doth lie.
Having taking Albinus prisoner, he commanded him to be slain, caused his body to be laid before his palace, rode over him, and at last cast his mangled corps (the stench whereof could not be endured) into the river Rh…s…e, with the carkases of his wife and children.
Having compelled Nigers Captaines (whose children he kept as pledges) to betray Nigers affaires,Herodian l. 3. c. 2. & 5. Of his vertues and vices, but especially his dissimulation, see Brochmands Ethica Hist. c. 3. when he had attained his ends, he slew them and their children.
He gained his sur-name Britannicus, by building, or at least repairing the Picts-wall between England and Scotland, 132. miles in length, against the incursions of the Scots and Picts. At every miles end was a tower, and pipes of brasse (in the wall betwixt every tower) conveied the least noise from garison to garison, without interruption; so newes of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders, and occasionall provision made for resistance. There were also resting places for the Areans, who were appointed by the Ancients (saith Amm. Marcellinus) to serve for foot-posts, to run as occurrents fell between the Officers, and carry them word of the least stirring. Since the wall is ruined, and that way of dispatch taken away, many inhabitants thereabout hold land by a tenure in Cornage (as Lawyers speak) being bound by blowing a horn to discover the irruption of the enemy. Cambden's Britannia. ubi videsis plura.
It is reported by Spartian, that in his passage to York a little before his death, a Black-Moor with a Cypresse garland on his head did meet Severus, (who bid him, as unfortunate, to be put out of his sight) and saluted him thus; Totum fuisti, totum vicisti, jam Deus esto victor. At his entrance into the City, he was by errour of a rusticall Soothfayer (who guided him) brought into the Temple of Bellona: and black beasts, being appointed for sacrifice, did of themselves follow him to his palace. Which things, howsoever they fell our accidentally, yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event.
While he lay sick of the gout at York, the souldiers saluting his son Bassianus Emperour, he arose and caused the principall of them to be brought before him, and when they prostrate craved pardon, he laying his hand on his head, said, Sentitisne tandem caput imperare, non pedes? Spartian c. 18.
A little before his death he caused his urne to be brought before him, and taking it into his hand, said; Thou shalt contain him whom the world could not. Xiphiline.
He said to his Sons on his death-bed, Agree among your selves, enrich the souldiers, and contemne all others. Id. ibid.
In relation to which union he bade them read in Salust, Mycypsa's dying speech to his sons, in which there is this expression; Concordiâ res parvae cres…unt, discordiâ magnae dilabuntur. Spartian. c. 21.
By his pernicious advice to his sons to study onelyonly the enriching of the souldiery, he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the Roman power, as the Greek Epigrammatist calls it. For after Severus his raigne, for 30 lawfull Emperours, the Roman Empire saw in the space of 150 yeares, more then an 100 Tyrants. The discipline of the vertuous Emperours occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne. As the tragicall ends of young Gordian, of Alexander Severus, of Posthumus, Probus and Aurelian manifest. Tristan.
He ended his life with these words, Turbatam Rempublicam ubique accepi, pacatam etiam Britannis relinquo, senex & pedibus aeger, firmum Imperium antoninis meis relinquens si boni erunt, imbecillum si mali. Spartian c. 23.
Before he dyed he was so pained in all his body, but especially in his feet, that not able to endure the torment, he called for poyson, which being denied, he greedily glutted himself with grosse meates, and not able to digest them, dyed of a surfet. Sex. Aurel. Vict.
The imprecation of Plautius Quintillus had the like effect upon Severus, as that of Severianus had upon Hadrian. Xiphilin.
Some say he dyed rather through grief for his son Caracalla's wickednesse, then of any other malady.
He lived 65 yeares, 9 moneths and 25 dayes, and reigned 17 yeares, 8 moneths and 3 dayes.
He was buried in a place near York, which to this day is called Severs-hill.
It was said of him by the Senate, that either he should not have been born, or not have dyed; having done so much mischief in pursuit of greatness, and so much good when he was established. Spartian. c. 18.
He married Martia, and after her death Iulia Domna, because he found by her nativity she should be matcht with a King; though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore; whom yet he bare with through excesse of affection, though she was guilty of a conspiracy. Spartian. c. 3. and 18.
He was deifyed after his death by the Senate.
After the death of Charles the 9 of France, his image was laid in a rich bed, in triumphant attire, with the Crown upon his head, and the collar of the order about his neck, and 40 dayes at ordinary houres, dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies, as sewing, water, grace, carving, &c. all the Cardinals, Prelats, Lords, Gentlemen and Officers attending in far greater solemnity, then if he had been alive. Now this I confesse was a piece of flattery more then needed, but not comparable to that of the Romans, in making their Emperours Gods, which they might well have conceived, was neither in the power of the one to give, nor of the other to receive. Dr. Hakewill in his Apology.
In Severus his reigne the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for Adultery. Id. ib.
When Julia blamed the wife of Argento…oxus a Northern Britain, because her country people accompanied promiscously (10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 Women common among them) she not ignorant of the Roman incontinency, replied; We accompany openly with the best, but vile persons defile you secretly. Xiphiline.
Dion writeth that in Severus his time it rained silver at Rome in Augustus his forum.
O pluviam salutarem, & supparem illi, quâ Iupiter ad Danaen suam penetravit! sed nimis hic inf…equentem inquies. Sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusâ hac frigidâ confutabo. Rore illo argenteo, addit Dion, nummos aliquot aereos oblivi, mansit color 3 dies; 4to. quicquid oblitum fuerat, evanuit. Fromondus Met…orolog. l. 5. c. 6. Art. 3.
Severus caused the 5. persecution, it being the Devils policy to employ especially men noted for morall honesty and abilities, to massacre Gods Saints, that the world might believe, that those could not choose but be most abomiable, whom such wise and pious men were so earnest to extinguish. Dr. Prideaux.
Impiger egelido movet arma Severus ab Istr…,
Vt parricidae regna adimat Didio.
Punica origo illi; sed qui virtute probaret
Non obstare locum, quum valet ingenium.
Ausonius.
PESCENNIUS NIGER, And CLODIUS ALBINUS. Usurpers.
ENgaged both in the war against Septimius Severus, with like unfortunate event being both conquered, and having their heads set upon a pole; Niger had his name à nigra cervice, saith Spartian in his life.
Albinus was so called, quod, exceptus utero, contra consuetudinem puerorum qui nascuntur, & solent rubere, esset candidissimus. Capitoli…us in his life; who confirmeth his relation with this passage in an Epistle of Cejonius Posthumius (Father of Albinus) to Aelius Bassianus then Proconsul of Africk. Filius mihi natus est, ita candidus statim toto corpore, ut linteamen quo exceptus est, vinceret. Quare susceptum eum Albinorum Famil…ae, quae mihi tecum communis est, dedi, Albini nomine imposito.
Niger was overthrown at the first encounter of his party with Severus, through the treachery of Aemilianus his General, as it was thought; and in the next fight in which he engaged personally was totally defeated, near the Bay of Issus, where Alexander the Great vanquished Darius.
Albinus warred with Severus, for withholding the copartner-ship which he promised to Albinus, whom he feared because he was a valiant Souldier, whereas he slighted Julian and Niger, who were negligent and luxurious.