THE RISE AND FALL OF AN IMPERIAL ROMAN DYNASTY

A STORY OF A ROMAN FAMILY

( A tale of 9 disasters)

FOREWORD

The Roman Empire in the first century AD mixed culture  with violence.  Its leaders, the emperors, had to keep a very tight and sometimes violent control of the reins of power.

Being at the head of such an organisation was a demanding and dangerous job that could bring vast rewards but Assassination was an occupational hazard.

This book recounts the story of the rise and fall of a powerful Roman family that was brought down by a series of disasters.

John Prior

2023 ©

THE RISE TO  POWER

Lucius Septimius Severus (11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa.

Septimius Severus came from a wealthy and distinguished family of equestrian rank. Severus had Italic and Punic ancestry; the Roman ancestry came from his mother's side, while his Punic ancestry came from his father's side.[7] 

Due to his family background on his father's side he is considered the first provincial emperor as he was the first emperor not only born in the provinces but also into a provincial family of non-Italian origin..

As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus.Severus seized power after the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193.

His

predecessor

, Didius Julianus

had

made himself so unpopular by debasing the currency that he was executed.