Lecture 10.The Severan Empire
I. L. Aurelius Antoninus Commodus
(180-192)
A.
Beginnings
1.
Noble Lineage
2.
End of Marcomannic Wars (180)
B.
Reign of Terror
1.
Domestic Popularity:Hercules
2.
Cruelty:murders Lucilla (sister), Savlius Julianus (jurist), Perrenis (PPO),
Cleander (chamberlain)
3.
Assassination
II.Chaos
A.
Helvius
Pertinax (Dec. 192- Mar.
193): not pay praetorians
B.
Didius Julianus (Mar. 193 - 193):empire auction
III. Septimius
Severus (193-211)
A.
Background
African
Nobles
Fake
ancestry: avenger of Pertinax; Antonine ancestry?
B.
"Usurpers"
1.
Pescennius Niger (193-194): Syria and east
2.
Postumius Albinus (193-197): Britain and west
C.
Foreign Wars
1. Parthia (194-195
and 197-199):annex Osrhoene and Mesopotamia
2.
Britain (208-211)
D.
Reforms
1.
Senate:Persecution; Provincials
2.
Army: Pay; Marriage; Praetorians; 30>>33 legions
IV. Caracalla
(211-217)
A.
Accession:
1.
Favoritism over Geta
2.
Murder of Geta:in Julia Domna’s (mother’s) arms; damnatio
memoriae
B.
Foreign Wars
1.
Alemanni (213):German confederation on upper Rhine
2.
Parthia (216, again)
C.
Reforms
1.
Citizenship:Constitutio Antoniniana (212)
2.
Currency:"Antoninianus"
D.
Murder
V. Chaos
A.
Opellius Macrinus (217-218)
B.
Varius Avitus Bassianus (M. Aurelius Antoninus Helagabalus) (218-222)
1.
Lineage:Julia Maesa and Soemia
2.
One God:Elagabal; Foppery
C.
Gessius Alexianus Bassianus (Severus Alexander) (222-235)
1. Lineage: Julia Mammea (grandmother) and Ulpian
regents
2.
Military trouble
a.
Sasanians (Persia):from c. 227; very threatening
b. Alemanni (again):buys peace
VI.Trends
A.
Provincialization of Emperor: emperors from provinces; Provincial
armies control imperial election
B.
Militarization:increase pay and prestige; emperor participates in
campaigns
C.
Economy: debasement of the currency
D.
Barbarian threats:German confederations; Sasanians
