Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 22
L. Septimius Severus.
HE was one of the 25 Consuls made in one year by Cleander, Commodus his favourite. Xiphilinus in Commodo.
He was an African, of so low birth, that, when he enrolled himself into the family of Marcus Aurelius, one Pollenius Sebennus is reported to have said, O Caesar I congratulate thy fortune, that thou hast found a Father: as if he had not had a Father before, his original being so base and obscure; reflecting hereby also upon the chastity of his Mother. Tristan.
Having ascended from mean estate to the highest honour, he was wont to say; Omnia fui, nihil expedit: I have been all things, and am never the better. Spartianus in Severo c. 18.
In his childhood before he was taught Greek or Latine, he exercised himself in no other play but that which is called in Latine Ad judices, being a personating of Justice. Spartianus in Septimio Severo. cap. 1.
He dreamed that he saw in one of the market-places at Rome a horse to throw Pertinax, who had mounted on him,Magnus revera princeps Severus; qui que severitate sua reformavit multa in melius, teste imprimis Tertulliano in libello de pallio. quare etiam FVNDATOR IMPERII, in quadam inscriptione nominatur. Casaubonus in Historiam Augustam. and to suffer himself to back him; a brass Image of which dream remained in Herodian's time. Herodian, Xiphiline.
He would be called Pertinax, for the respect he had to Pertinax the Emperor slain by Iulian, saith Eutropius l. 9.
He was expert in the Mathematicks, a good Philosopher, and eloquent Orator.
He was sufficiently learned in the Latine, but was readier in the Punic tongue, as being born at Leptis within the Province of Africk. Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
Nothing is comparable to Severus his conflicts or conquests, either for multitude of forces, commotion of Countries, number of battels, length of journies, or speed in marches. Herodian l. 3. c. 7.
This was a gallant, brave and active man,
Yet in his mood of Spirit somewhat furious;
Austere of life, his visage pale and wan,
Of labour great, in travel nothing curious:
Of quick resolve and nimble apprehension,
To execute what e're was his intention.
Herodian in English verse. p. 61.
His Soldiers endured all difficulties cheerfully in emulation of him, who excited them to hardship by his own example.
He was so inured to continual action, that even at his last gasp he said; Is there any thing for me to do? Xiphiline.
Byzantium was of great strength in the flourish of the Roman Empire. The walls of a just height, every stone whereof was so joined with couplets of Brass, that the whole seemed but one entire piece; adorned besides with Turrets, Bulwarks, and other arts of Fortification. Siding with Niger in his war against Severus, it endured a siege of three years against all the forces of the Romans: during which time the people were so distressed by Famine, that men meeting in the streets, would draw and fight; the Conqueror feeding on the Vanquished. For want of Artillery to discharge on the Assailants, they cast down upon them whole Statues made of Brass, and the like curious imagery. Houses they pulled down to get timber for shipping; the women cutting off their hair to inch out their tackle: and having thus patched up a Navy of 500 Sail, lost it all by one tempest. Compelled to yield by this misfortune, the principal of the Nobility were put to the sword, the wealth of the Inhabitants given for a prey to the Soldiers; the walls thereof dismantled, the Town left in rubbish. Yet there appeared so much of majesty and beauty in the very ruines; Vt mireris utrum eorum qui primi extruxerunt, vel eorum qui deinceps sunt demoliti, vires sint potiores, as Herodian hath it.
Instead 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 inscribed on the gate 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 ingenious interpretation of their ambiguous inscription he pardoned them. Suidas in foreign.
When certain of his Officers went about to perswade him to rase out an Epigram made in commendation of Niger, (at the basis of whose statue it was engraved) he expressed his dislike by these words; Si talis fuit, sciant omnes qualem vicerimus: si talis non fuit, 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.
The Nigrians possessed of the Cilician streights and entrances, couragiously withstood the Severian party; till at last a sudden tempest of rain and thunder continually darting in their faces (as if the very Heavens had been armed against them) they were fain to leave the passage, and therewith the victory to the adverse faction; having sold that at the loss of 20000 of their own lives, which Alexander had the happiness or the had to buy for nothing. Dr. Heylin's Geography.
When he was Lieutenant in Africk, one of his inferior 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 of foot. Spartian.
Plautian his favourite was so great with him, that one of Plautian's Officers being commanded by Severus, then at leisure, to plead a cause, refused, saying; He could not do it unless Plautian commanded him. Xiphiline.
Dio cumprimis diligenter describit Atr. obsidionis seriem casusque. Boeclerus in Herodianum. p. 419.At the siege of Atrae, when he had beaten down a great part of the wall, and his Soldiers 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 design 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. Aurelius Victor.
He boasted to the Senate of his clemency, although he slew at one time forty 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 Imperator vere nominis sui, vere Pertinax, vere Severus: Spartianus in Sept. Sev. c. 14.so that Silenus might well say (in Iuliani Caesaribus) I dare not speak against him, I am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty.
Io. Antiochenus saith he was a great Soldier, but his covetousness transported him beyond his valour.
He was more covetous and cruel than any of his Predecessors. Tristan.
In his first British war he lost 50000 men, as Dio acknowledgeth.
Upon a second defection in Britain, he commanded an universal slaughter of his enemies, in these verses:
— foreign
foreign
foreign.
Let none escape your bloody rage,
With terror let all dye;
Spare not the Mother, nor the Babe
Which in her womb doth lie.
Having vanquished Albinus and Niger, he begun to make a great slaughter of those,Natura saevus, multis semper bellis lacessitus, fortissime quidem remp. sed laboriosissimè rexit. Orosius l. 7. c. 17. Of his vertues and vices, but especially his dissimulation, see Brochmands Ethica Hist. c. 3. which had taken part with them. As he was committing this slaughter, he said unto Bassianus and Geta his children; I by this means shall ease you of your enemies; to which when Bassianus so farr consented, that he advised to have even their children put to death, Geta is reported to have demanded the number of them that were to be slain, which when his Father told him; he asked, Have they neither parents, nor friends? when it was answered by Severus, that they had many: Geta replyed, Then more in the City will mourn, than rejoyce for our victory, and you will leave us more enemies than you take from us. This wise speech of this young prince touched so well the heart of Severus (although he was cruel) that he would needs cease from his slaughter, but that Plautian and other courtiers, which aimed at the enriching of themselves by confiscations incited him to continue. A Discourse against Machiavel translated into English. p. 272. out of Capitolinus in Geta. c. 4.
For his native severity, Septimius Afer was as well fitted to the impetuous disposition of the Roman Empire, when he undertook it, as any medicine can be to the malady, for which it is by art prepared. And yet his practise (though exactly answering to Machiavel's rules of reformation) found but the Mountebanks successe; be cured some present mischiefs, but procured more grievous secret and permanent inconveniences. The barbarous nations which longed most for Romes destruction, learned the use & art of making the Romans weapons and artillery, from the discontented Exiles, which his severity thrust upon them; nor did Constantine the great (though Leunclavius be willing to preferr the unsanctified Zosimus his bil against him, to Christian Princes) half so much weaken the Empire, by his largess towards Christians, as Septimius did wound it, by seeking to restore, or rather to intend the rigour of ancient discipline amongst modern dissolute Romans. Dr. Iackson of the divine Attributes. part 2. p. 282, 283.
He gained his sur-name Britannicus, by building, or at least repairing the Picts-wal 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 brass (in the wall betwixt every tower) conveyed the least noise from garison to garison, without interruption; so news of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders, and occasional 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, & that way of dispatch taken away, many inhabitants there-about 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.
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 rustical Sooth-sayer (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, however they fell out accidentally, yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event.
While he lay sick of the gout at York, the soldiers saluting his son Bassianus Emperor, he arose and caused the principal 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? Spartianus in Severo. c. 18.
Per quae verba affecti corporis impedimento animi magnitudinem atque prudentiam contulit. Quam severe igitur arbitrari possumus in alterius generis seditionem animadversurum fuisse, cum filii dignitatem, cujus post se cupidissimus erat, a militibus privatim procuratam tam acerbo supplicio ulcisci vellet? B. Fulgosus lib. 2. c. 2.
A little before his death he caused his Porphyry …urn to be brought before him, & 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 consoldiers, & contemn all others. Id. ibid.
In relation to which union he bad them read in Salust. Micypsa's dying speech to his sons, in which there is this expression; Concordia res parvae crescunt, discordia magnae dilabuntur. Spartian. c. 21.
By his pernicious advice to his sons to study only the enriching of the soldiery, he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the Roman power, as the Greek Epigrammatist calls it. For after Severus his reign, for 30 lawful Emperors, the Roman Empire saw in the space of 150 years, more than an 100 Tyrants. The discipline of the vertuous Emperors occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne. As the tragical ends of young G…rdian, of Alexander Severus, of Posthumus, Probus and Aurelian manifested. Tristan.
A Prince of indifferent worth, had not his vertue suffered ship-wrack by his affections; Erant ei filii multo chariores quam cives: which though a private man may confess whose Government is but a houshold, it is a shame for a Prince whose office as it resembles the gods in power, so it should in being free from partiality. Sr. William Cornwallis junior in his Encomium of Iulian the Apostate.
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 denyed, he greedily glutted himself with gross meats, and not able to digest them, dyed of a surfet. Sextus Aurelius Victor's Epitome.
The imprecation of Plautius. Quintillus that he might not die when he would, having the like effect upon Severus, as that of Severianus had upon Adrian. Xiph.
Some say he dyed rather through grief for his son Caracalla's wickednesse, than of any other malady.
He lived 65 years 9 months and 52 days, and reigned 17 years, 8 months & 3 dayes.
He was buryed 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.
When he offered to make his Son-in-law Probus, Prefect of the City, Probus refused, saying; It seemed less to him to be a Prefect, than to be Son-in-law to a Prince. Spartian. 1 Sam. 18.23.
He married Martia, and after her death Iulia *Mater Caracallae fuit, non noverca, atque hinc ruit commentum illud quo dicitur Caracallus Juliam novercam suam uxorem duxisse: quod nec agnoscit Dio, nec Herodianus, qui inter pessimi perditissimique imperatoris probra non omisissent hoc incestum facinus referre. Quod ut minus facinorosum videretur, finxerunt authores isti, novercam illi Juliam, non matrem fuisse, ut sic daretur locus huic opinioni, quam matris nomen prorsus respuebat. Salmasius in Historiam Augustam p. 143.Domna, because he found by her nativity she should be matched with a King; though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore: whom he yet bare with through excess of affection, though she was guilty of a conspiracy. Spartian. c. 3. and 18.
He was deifyed after his death by the Senate.
He was the most warlike of all the Emperors that were before him, quick of apprehension, persevering in all things which he determined; where he enclined to favour admirable and constant, diligent in seeking out friends, and liberal in rewarding them: equally vehement towards friends and foes. Sextus Aurelius Victor in his Epitome.
He was the only Emperor created out of Africk, saith Eutropius lib. 8.
Severus might amongst the best shine bright,
But that he was th' eclipse of his own light.
Dr. Holyday's Survey of the world. lib. 8. p. 90.
He associated his Sons in the Sovereignty, and declared them Emperors. Herodian lib. 3. c. 9. editionis Boeclerianae.
Sed quae putabat Severus futura amoris vincula, fiebant irarum incitamenta, saith Iacobus Cappellus in his Historiae Ecclesiasticae centuriae.
In Severus his reign the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for adultery.
When Iulia blamed the wife of Argentocoxus a Northern Britain, because her country people accompanied promiscuously (10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 Women common among them) she not ignorant of the Roman incontinency, replyed; We accompany openly with the best, but vile persons defile you secretly. Xiphiline.
Dio writeth that in Severus his time it rained silver at Rome in Augustus's forum.
O pluviam salutarem, & supparem illi, qua Iupiter ad Danaen suam penetravit! sed nimis hic infrequentem inquies. Sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusa hac frigida confutabo. Rore illo argenteo, addit Dio, nummos aliquot aereos oblivi, mansit color 3 dies; 4to. quicquid oblitum fuerat, evanuit. Formondus Meteorolog. l. 5. c. 6. Art. 3. Severus caused the 5th. persecution.
Tertullian his book de corona militis acquainteth us with the occasion of the persecution of the Christians, in the reign of Severus. The Emperor ere he marched into the East (in that expedition wherein he overthew the Parthians) made his elder son his partner in the Tribunitial power, & by his liberality pleased the |Quinta post Neronem, persecutione Christianos excruc…avi…, plurimique per diversos provine… martyria c…nati …. Han… profanam in Christanos & Ecclesiam Dei praesumptionem Severi, coelestis ultio e vestigio acta subsequitur. Nam continuo rapitur, vel potius retrahitur in Galliam Severus, e Syria ad tertium civile bellum, Vnum jam enim Romae adversum Julianum, aliud in Syria contra Poscennium gesserat, tertium Clodius Albinus Juliani in occidendo Pertinace socius, qui se in Gallia Caesarem fecerat, suscitabat; cujus bello multum utrinque Romani sanguinis fusum est. Albinus tamen apud Lugdunum oppressus & interfectus est. Severus Victor in Britannias defectu penè omnium sociorum trahitur. Paulus Orosius lib. 7. c. 17.people formerly inraged with the many punishments he inflicted. By occasion of this liberality, as it seemeth; a Christian Soldier holding a certain garland or crown in his hand, as if it were wickedness for him to set it on his head as the rest did, was asked why he did so, and answered, that he was a Christian. This was the occasion of the Emperors rage. William Howel in his Institution of general History. lib. 4. ch. 5. p. 856, &c. Thomas Ford's Apophthegmes. p. 2.
Persequutio illa exorta est, ob eam sane praecipuè caussam quod contra Principis edicta Christiani coitiones inire viderentur: quapropter criminationem istam pluribus diluit Tertullianus hoc libro. Heraldus in Apologet. Tertul. p. 3.
Impiger egelido movet arma Severus ab Istro,
Vt parricidae regna adimat Didio.
Punica origo illi; sed qui virtute probaret
Non obstare locum, quum valet ingenium,
Ausonius.