Severan dynasty

Portrait of family of Septimius Severus - Altes Museum - Berlin - Germany 2017

Septimius Severus busto-Musei Capitolini

Caracalla et Geta

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Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla, Geta, aureus, AD 202, RIC IV 181c

Severan dynasty family tree

Aureus Macrinus-RIC 0079

Severan Dynasty

The Severan Dynasty was a prominent ruling family of the Roman Empire that held power from 193 to 235 AD. This period is notable for its significant military, economic, and cultural developments, as well as for the dynasty's efforts to stabilize the empire following the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. The dynasty was founded by Septimius Severus, who emerged victorious in the civil wars that followed the assassination of Commodus and the subsequent collapse of the Antonine Dynasty.

Founding

The Severan Dynasty was established when Septimius Severus, a Roman general of Punic and Libyan descent from the province of Africa, declared himself emperor in 193 AD. His claim to the throne was contested, but after defeating his rivals—Pescennius Niger in the east and Clodius Albinus in Gaul—Severus consolidated his power and initiated reforms aimed at strengthening the empire.

Members

The dynasty includes several notable emperors:

• Septimius Severus (193–211 AD), the founder, known for his military campaigns and administrative reforms.
• Caracalla (198–217 AD), Severus' son, co-emperor from 198 AD, and sole emperor after Severus' death. He is remembered for the Constitutio Antoniniana, granting Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire.
• Geta (209–211 AD), Caracalla's brother, co-emperor until his assassination by Caracalla.
• Macrinus (217–218 AD), although not a blood relative, his brief rule is often included due to his association with the Severan administration.
• Elagabalus (218–222 AD), a cousin of Caracalla, known for his eccentricity and religious reforms.
• Severus Alexander (222–235 AD), another cousin, noted for his attempts to reform the empire and the military defeats that led to his downfall.

Impact

The Severan Dynasty is credited with significant military, administrative, and cultural impacts on the Roman Empire. Septimius Severus expanded the Roman army, increased pay for soldiers, and implemented policies that significantly empowered the military. These actions, while stabilizing in the short term, increased the empire's fiscal burden and contributed to long-term economic difficulties.

Under the Severans, the empire saw a flourishing of arts and culture, with the promotion of African and Syrian influences alongside traditional Roman values. The dynasty also marked a shift towards absolute monarchy, with the emperor's power becoming more autocratic and less subject to senatorial oversight.

Decline

The dynasty's decline began with the reign of Severus Alexander, whose inability to effectively deal with external threats and military discontent led to his assassination in 235 AD. This event marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century, a period of nearly fifty years during which the empire was plagued by civil war, economic collapse, and invasions.

Legacy

The Severan Dynasty's legacy is mixed. On one hand, it was a period of significant cultural achievements and the last phase of relative stability before the Crisis of the Third Century. On the other, the dynasty's militarization of the state and the increased autocracy set precedents that would challenge the traditional Roman political and social order.