Historia Augusta: Septimius Severus

I. 1 Interfecto Didio Iuliano Severus Africa oriundus imperium optinuit. 2 Cui civitas Lepti, pater Geta, maiores equites Romani ante civitatem omnibus datam; mater Fulvia Pia, patrui magni Aper et Severus, consulares, avus maternus Macer, paternus Fulvius Pius fuere. 3 Ipse natus est Erucio Claro bis et Severo conss.

1. 1 With Didius Julianus slain, Severus, originating from Africa, obtained the empire. 2 To him the city was Leptis; his father was Geta; his ancestors were Roman equites before citizenship had been given to all; his mother was Fulvia Pia; his great paternal uncles were Aper and Severus, of consular rank; his maternal grandfather was Macer, his paternal [grandfather] was Fulvius Pius. 3 He himself was born when Erucius Clarus (for the second time) and Severus were consuls.

VI. idus apriles. 4 In prima pueritia, priusquam Latinis Graecisque litteris imbueretur quibus eruditissimus fuit, nullum alium inter pueros ludum nisi adiudices execuit, cum ipse praelatis fascibus ac securibus ordine puerorum circumstante sederet ac iudicaret. 5 Octavo decimo anno publice declamavit.

6. Ides of April. 4 In earliest boyhood, before he was imbued with Latin and Greek letters—in which he was most erudite—he played at no other game among the boys except “judges,” when he himself, with fasces and axes borne before him, as the rank of boys stood around, would sit and judge. 5 In his eighteenth year he declaimed publicly.

Postea studiorum causa Romam venit, latum clavum a divo Marco petit et accepit favente sibi Septimo Severo adfini suo, bis iam consulari. 6 Cum Romam venisset, hospitem nanctus, qui Hadriani vitam imperator iam eadem hora legeret, quod sibi omen futurae felicitatis arripuit. 7 Habuit et aliud omen imperii.

Afterwards, for the sake of studies, he came to Rome, sought and received the laticlave from the deified Marcus, with Septimius Severus, his kinsman by marriage, favoring him, already twice consul. 6 When he had come to Rome, he found a host who at that very hour was reading the Life of the Emperor Hadrian; he seized this as an omen of future felicity for himself. 7 He had also another omen of empire.

Cum rogatus ad cenam imperatoriam palliatus venisset, qui togatus venire debuerat, togam praesidiariam ipsius imperatoris accepit. 8 Eadem nocte somniavit lupae se uberibus ut Remum inhaerere vel Romulum. 9 Sedit et in sella imperatoria temere a ministro posita, ignarus quod non liceret.

When, having been invited to the imperial dinner, he came cloaked in a pallium, although he ought to have come in a toga, he received a reserve toga of the emperor himself. 8 On the same night he dreamed that he was clinging to the teats of a she-wolf, as Remus or Romulus. 9 He also sat in the imperial chair, which had been rashly set up by an attendant, unaware that it was not permitted.

10 Dormienti etiam in stabulo serpens caput cinxit et sine noxa experge factis et adclamantibus familiaribus abiit.

10 While he was sleeping also in the stable, a serpent encircled his head, and, without harm, once he had been awakened and with his familiars acclaiming, it departed.

II. 1 Iuventam plenam furorum, nonnumquam et criminum habuit. 2 Adulterii causam dixit absolutusque est a Iuliano proconsule, cui et in proconsulatu successit et in consulatu collega fuit et in imperio item successit. Quaesturam diligenter egit omisso tribunatu militari.

2. 1 He had a youth full of furies, sometimes even of crimes. 2 He stood trial on a charge of adultery and was acquitted by Julianus the proconsul, whom he also succeeded in the proconsulship, was a colleague with in the consulship, and likewise succeeded in the imperium. He administered the quaestorship diligently, the military tribunate having been omitted.

3 Post quaesturam sorte Baeticam accepit atque inde Africam petit, ut mortuo patre rem domesticam conponeret. 4 Sed dum in Africa est, pro Baetica Sardinia ei attributa est, quod Baeticam Mauri populabantur. 5 Acta igitur quaestura Sardiniensi legationem proconsulis Africae accepit.

3 After the quaestorship he received Baetica by lot, and from there he made for Africa, in order to settle the domestic affairs after his father had died. 4 But while he was in Africa, Sardinia was assigned to him in place of Baetica, because the Moors were ravaging Baetica. 5 Therefore, the quaestorship having been carried out in Sardinia, he received the legation of the proconsul of Africa.

6 In qua legatione cum eum quidam municipum suorum Lepcitanus praecedentibus fascibus ut antiquum contubernalem ipse plebeius amplexus esset, fustibus eum sub elogio eiusdem praeconis cecidit : "Legatum p. R. homo plebeius temere amplecti noli." 7 Ex quo factum, ut in vehiculo etiam legati sederent, qui ante pedibus ambulabant. 8 Tunc in quadam civitate Africana, cum sollicitus mathematicum consuluiss et positaque hora ingentia vidisset, astrologus dixit ei : 9 "Tuam non alienam pone genituram", cumque Severus iurasset suam esse, omnia ei dixit, quae postea facta sunt.

6 In that legation, when a certain Lepcitanian, one of his own townsmen, with the fasces going before, had embraced him—he himself a plebeian—as an old tent-mate, he struck him with cudgels under the proclamation of that same herald : "Do not rashly embrace the legate of the Roman People, plebeian man." 7 From which it came about that even legates sat in a vehicle, who previously used to walk on foot. 8 Then, in a certain African city, when, anxious, he had consulted an astrologer and, the hour having been set, had seen immense portents, the astrologer said to him : 9 "Set your own, not another’s, nativity," and when Severus had sworn it was his own, he told him everything which afterwards came to pass.

III. 1 Tribunatum plebis Marco imperatore decernente promeruit eumque severissime exertissimeque egit. 2 Uxorem tunc Marciam duxit, de qua tacuit in historia vitae privatae.

3. 1 He earned the tribunate of the plebs, Marcus the emperor decreeing it, and he exercised it most severely and most strenuously. 2 Then he took Marcia as his wife, about whom he kept silence in the history of his private life.

Cui postea in imperio statuas conlocavit. 3 Praetor designatus a Marco est non in candida, sed in conpetitorum grege anno aetatis XXXII. 4 Tunc ad Hispaniam missus somniavit primo sibi dici, ut templum Tarraconense Augusti, quod iam labebatur, restitueret; 5 deinde ex altissimi montis vertice orbem terrarum Romamque despexit concinentibus provinciis lyra, voce vel tibia.

To whom afterwards, during his reign, he set up statues. 3 He was designated praetor by Marcus, not in the candida, but in the cohort of competitors, in the year of age 32. 4 Then, sent to Spain, he dreamed first that it was said to him to restore the Tarraconese temple of Augustus, which was already collapsing; 5 then from the summit of a very high mountain he looked down upon the orb of lands and upon Rome, while the provinces harmonized with lyre, voice, or flute.

Ludos absens edidit. 6 Legioni IIII. Scythicae dein praepositus est circa Massiliam.

He put on games while absent. 6 He was then put in command of the 4th Scythica Legion near Massilia.

7 Post hoc Athenas petit studiorum sacrorumque causa et operum ac vetustatum. Ubi cum iniurias quasdam ab Atheniensibus pertulisset, inimicus his factus minuendo eorum privilegia iam imperator se ultus est. 8 Dein Lugdunensem provinciam legatus accepit.

7 After this he made for Athens for the sake of studies and sacred rites and of works and antiquities. Where, when he had borne certain injuries from the Athenians, having become hostile to them he, now emperor, avenged himself by diminishing their privileges. 8 Then he received the Lugdunensian province as legate.

9 Cum amissa uxore aliam vellet ducere, genituras sponsarum requirebat, ipse quoque matheseos peritissimus, et cum audisset esse in Syria quandam, quae id geniturae haberet, ut regii ungeretur, eandem uxorem petit, Iuliam scilicet, et accepit interventu amicorum. Ex qua statim pater factus est.

9 When his wife had been lost and he wished to lead another to marriage, he was inquiring into the genitures of the betrothed, he himself also most skilled in mathesis; and when he had heard that there was in Syria a certain woman who had this in her geniture, that she would be anointed for royalty, he sought that same woman as wife, namely Julia, and obtained her through the intervention of friends. From whom he at once became a father.

IV. 1 A Gallis ob severitam et honorificentiam et abstinentiam tantum quantum nemo dilectus est. 2 Dein Pannonias proconsulari imperio rexit. Post hoc Siciliam proconsularem sorte meruit.

CHAPTER 4. 1 By the Gauls, on account of his severity and honorificence and abstinence, he was loved as much as no one. 2 Then he governed the Pannonias with proconsular imperium. After this he obtained by lot the proconsular Sicily.

3 Suscepitque Romae alterum filium. In Sicilia quasi de imperio vel vates vel Chaldaeos consuluisset, reus factus est. A praefect praet., quibus audiendus datus fuerat, iam Commodo in odium veniente absolutus est calumniatore in crucem acto.

3 And he also received in Rome another son. In Sicily, on the pretext that he had consulted either seers or Chaldaeans about the imperium, he was made a defendant. By the praetorian prefects, before whom he had been given to be heard, as Commodus was now becoming odious, he was acquitted, and the calumniator was crucified.

4 Consulatum cum Apuleio Rufino primum egit, Commodo se inter plurimos designante. Post consulatum anno ferme fuit otiosus; dein Laeto suffragante exercitui Germanico praeponitur. 5 Proficiscens ad Germanicos exercitus hortos spatiosos comparavit, cum antea aedes brevissimas Romae habuisset et unum fundum [in] Veientanum.

4 He held his first consulship with Apuleius Rufinus, Commodus designating him among many. After the consulship he was idle for almost a year; then, with Laetus casting his vote in favor, he was set over the Germanic army. 5 As he was setting out for the Germanic armies, he procured spacious gardens, whereas previously he had had in Rome very small houses and a single estate in the Veientine district.

6 In his hortis cum humi iacens epularetur cum filiis parca cena pomaque adposita maior filius, qui tunc quinquennis erat, consuloribus puerulis manu largiore divideret paterque illum reprehendens dixisset : "Parcius divide, nonenim regias opes possides", quinquennis puer respondit : "Sed possidebo" inquit. 7 In Germaniam profectus ita se in ea legatione egit, ut famam, nobilitatam iam ante, cumularet.

6 In these gardens, as he, lying on the ground, was dining with his sons, with a sparing supper and fruits set out, the elder son, who was then five years old, was sharing them out with a more lavish hand to his little companions, and when his father, reproving him, had said : "Divide more sparingly, for you do not possess royal wealth," the five-year-old boy replied : "But I shall possess it," said he. 7 Having set out into Germany, he conducted himself in that legation in such a way that he cumulated his fame, already before made noble.

V. 1 Et hactenus rem militarem privatus egit. Dehinc a Germanicus legionibus, ubi auditum est Commodum occisum, Iulianum autem cum odio cunctorum imperare, multis hortantibus repugnans imperator est appellatus apud Carnuntum idibus Augustis. 2 Qui etiam --- sestertia, quod nemo umquam principum, militibus dedit.

5. 1 And up to this point he conducted military affairs as a private citizen. Then, by the German legions, when it was heard that Commodus had been slain, and that Julian was ruling with the hatred of all, with many urging and he resisting, he was hailed emperor at Carnuntum on the Ides of August. 2 He even gave the soldiers --- sesterces, which none of the princes had ever done.

3 Dein firmatis, quas post tergum relinquebat, provinciis Romam iter contendit cedentibus sibi cunctis, quacumque iter fecit, cum iam Illyriciani exercitus et Gallicani cogentibus ducibus in eius verba iurassent; 4 excipiebatur enim ab omnibus quasi ultor Pertinacis. 5 Per idem tempus auctore Iuliano Septimius Severus a senatu hostis est appellatus legatis ad exercitum senatus verbismissis qui iuberent, ut ab eo milites senatu praecipiente discederent. 6 Et Severus quidem cum audisset senatus consentientis auctoritate missos legatos, primo pertimuit, postea id egit corruptis legatis, ut apud exercitum pro se loquerentur transirentque in eius partes.

3 Then, with the provinces which he was leaving behind him secured, he pressed his march to Rome, all yielding to him wherever he traveled, since by now the Illyrian and Gallican armies, with their leaders compelling, had sworn allegiance to him; 4 for he was received by all as the avenger of Pertinax. 5 At the same time, at Julian’s instigation, Septimius Severus was declared an enemy by the senate, legates being sent to the army with the senate’s mandate to order that, at the senate’s bidding, the soldiers withdraw from him. 6 And Severus, indeed, when he heard that legates had been sent by the authority of a consenting senate, at first was alarmed; afterward he brought it about, by bribing the legates, that they should speak on his behalf before the army and go over to his side.

7 His compertis Iulianus senatus consultum fieri fecit de participando imperio cum Severo. 8 Incertum, vere id an dolo fecerit, cum iam ante misisset notos ducum interfectores quosdam, qui Severum occiderent, ita ut ad Pescennium Nigrum interficiendum miserat, qui et ipse imperium contra eum susceperat auctoribus Syriacis exercitibus. 9 Verum Severus evitatis eorum manibus, quos ad se interficiendum Iulianus miserat, missis ad praetorianos litteris signum vel deserendi vel occidendi Iuliani dedit statimque auditus est.

7 With these things ascertained, Julian caused a senatorial decree to be made about sharing the imperium with Severus. 8 It is uncertain whether he did this truly or by dolo, since already before he had sent certain notorious assassins of generals to kill Severus, just as he had sent to have Pescennius Niger killed, who likewise had assumed the imperium against him at the prompting of the Syrian armies. 9 But Severus, having evaded the hands of those whom Julian had sent to kill him, sent letters to the Praetorians and gave the signal either to desert or to kill Julian, and he was listened to at once.

10 Nam et Iulianus occisus est in Palatio, et Severus Romam invitatus. 11 Ita, quod nulli umquam contigit, nutu tantum Severus victor est factus armatusque Romam contendit.

10 For Julian too was slain in the Palace, and Severus was invited to Rome. 11 Thus, a thing which has befallen no one ever, by a nod alone Severus was made victor, and, armed, he pressed on to Rome.

VI. 1 Occiso Iuliano cum Severus in castris et tentioriis quasi per hostium veniens adhuc maneret, centum senatores legatos ad eum senatus misit ad gratulandum rogandumque. 2 Qui ei occurrerunt Interamnae armatumque circumstantibus armatis salutarunt excussi, ne quid ferri haberent. 3 Et postera die occurente omni famulitio aulico septingenos vicenos aureos legatis dedit 4 eosdemque praemisit facta potestate, si qui velent remanere ac secum Romae redire.

6. 1 With Julianus slain, while Severus was still remaining in the camps and in the tents, as if advancing through enemy country, the senate sent one hundred senators as envoys to him to congratulate and to make requests. 2 They met him at Interamna and greeted him—he being armed and surrounded by armed men—having been searched, lest they have any iron. 3 And on the next day, with all the palace household coming to meet him, he gave the envoys seven hundred and twenty gold pieces each, 4 and he sent these same men on ahead, granting permission that any who wished might remain and return to Rome with him.

5 Fecit etiam statim praefectum praetorii Falvium Iuvenalem, quem etiam Iulianus tertium praefectum sibi adsumpserat. 6 Interim Romae ingens trepidatio militum civiumque, quod armatus contra eos Severus veniret, qui se hostem iudicassent. 7 His accessit quod comperit Pescennium Nigrum a Syriacis legionibus imperatorem appellatum.

5 He also immediately made Falvius Iuvenalis prefect of the praetorium, whom Julian had likewise taken to himself as a third praetorian prefect. 6 Meanwhile at Rome there was a huge trepidation of soldiers and citizens, because Severus was coming armed against them, they who had judged him an enemy. 7 To these things was added that he learned Pescennius Niger had been hailed emperor by the Syrian legions.

8 Cuius edicta et litteras ad populum vel senatorum intercepit per eos, qui missi fuerant, ne vel proponerentur populo vellegerentur in curia. 9 Eodem tempore etiam de Clodio Albino sibi substituendo cogitavit, cui Caesarianum decretum a Commodo iam videbatur imperium. 10 Sed eos ipsos pertimescens, de quibus recte iudicabat, Heraclitum ad optinendas Brittanias, Plautianum ad occupandos Nigri liberos misit.

8 He intercepted his edicts and letters to the people or of the senators through those who had been sent, so that they might neither be posted to the people nor read in the Curia. 9 At the same time he also thought about substituting Clodius Albinus for himself, to whom the Caesarian imperium already seemed decreed by Commodus. 10 But fearing those very men about whom he judged rightly, he sent Heraclitus to secure the Britains, and Plautianus to seize the children of Niger.

11 Cum Romam Severus venisset, praetorianos cum subarmalibus inermes sibi iussit occurere. Eosdem sic ad tribunal vocavit armatis undique circumdatis.

11 When Severus had come to Rome, he ordered the praetorians, with their subarmalia on and unarmed, to come meet him. He thus summoned those same men to the tribunal, with armed men stationed around on every side.

VII. 1 Ingressus deinde Romam armatus cum armatis militibus Capitolium ascendit. Inde in Palatium eodem habitu perrexit praelatis signis, quae praetorianis ademerat, supinis, non erectis.

VII. 1 Then, having entered Rome armed, with armed soldiers he ascended the Capitol. Thence he proceeded to the Palatine in the same attire, with the standards carried before him, which he had taken from the Praetorians, reversed, not erect.

2 Tota deinde urbe milites in templis, in porticibus, in aedibus Palatinis quasi in stabulis manserunt, 3 fuitque ingressus Severi Odiosus atque terribilis, cum milites inempta diriperent vastationem urbi minantes. 4 Alia die armatis stipatus non solum militibus, sed etiam amicis in senatum venit. In curia reddidit rationem suscepti imperii causatusque est, quod ad se occidendum Iulianus notos ducum caedibus misisset.

2 Then throughout the whole city the soldiers remained in the temples, in the porticoes, in the Palatine residences as if in stables, 3 and the entry of Severus was Odious and terrible, since the soldiers were plundering without purchase, threatening devastation to the city. 4 On another day, surrounded with armed men, not only soldiers but even friends, he came into the senate. In the curia he rendered an account of the assumed imperium and alleged that Julianus had sent men notorious for the slayings of commanders to kill him.

5 Fieri etiam senatus consultum coegit, ne liceret imperatori in consulto senatu occidere senatorem. 6 Sed cum in senatu esset, milites per seditionem dena milia poposcerunt a senatu exemplo eorum, qui Augustum Octavianum Romam deduxerant tantumque acceperant. 7 Et cum eos voluisset comprimere Severus nec potuisset, tamen mitigatos addita liberalitate dimisit.

5 He even compelled a senatus-consultum to be made, that it should not be permitted for an emperor, while the senate was in consultation, to kill a senator. 6 But when he was in the senate, the soldiers, by a sedition, demanded ten thousand from the senate, on the example of those who had escorted Augustus Octavianus to Rome and had received as much. 7 And when Severus had wished to repress them and could not, nevertheless, with a largess added, he dismissed them, mitigated.

8 Funus deinde censorium Pertinacis imagini duxit eumque inter divos sacravit addito flamine et sodalibus Helvianis, qui Marciani fuerant. 8 Se quoque Pertinacem vocari iussit, quamvis postea id nomen aboleri voluerit quasi omen. Amicorum dehinc eas alienunm dissolvit.

8 Then he led a censorial funeral for the image of Pertinax and consecrated him among the deified, with a flamen and the Helvian sodales added, who had been Marcian. 8 He also ordered that he himself be called Pertinax, although afterward he wished that name to be abolished, as an omen. Thereafter he discharged the debts of his friends.

VIII. 1 Filias suas dotatas maritis Probo et Aetio dedit. et cum Probo genero suo praefecturam urbi optulisset, ille recusavit dixitque minus sibi videri praefectum esse quam principis generum.

8. 1 He gave his daughters, dowered, to husbands Probus and Aetius. and when he had offered to Probus, his son-in-law, the prefecture of the city, he refused and said that it seemed to him a lesser thing to be a prefect than to be the emperor’s son-in-law.

2 Utrumque autem generum statim consulem fecit, utrumque ditavit. 3 Alia die ad senatum venit et amicos Iuliani incusatos proscriptioni ac neci dedit. 4 Causas plurimas audivit.

2 And he made each son-in-law consul at once, he enriched each. 3 On another day he came to the senate and, the friends of Julian having been accused, he gave them over to proscription and to death. 4 He heard very many causes.

accusatos a provincialibus indices probatis rebus graviter punivit. 5 Rei frumentariae, quam minimam reppererat, ita consuluit, ut excendens vita septem annorum canonem p. R. relinqueret. 6 Ad orientis statum confirmandum profectus est nihil adhunc de Nigro palam dicens.

he severely punished the judges, accused by the provincials, the facts having been proven. 5 He provided for the grain-supply, which he had found very scant, in such a way that, departing this life, he left a canon of seven years for the Roman People. 6 He set out to confirm the condition of the East, saying nothing thus far openly about Niger.

7 Ad Africam tamen legiones misit, ne per Libyam atque Aegyptum Niger Africam occuparet ac p. R. penuria rei frumentariae perurgeret. 8 Domitium Dextrum in locum Bassi praefectum urbi reliquit atque intra triginta dies, quam Romam venerat, est profectus. 9 Egressus ab urbe ad Saxa rubra seditionem ingentem ob locum castrorum metandorum ab exercitu passus est.

7 Nevertheless he sent legions to Africa, lest through Libya and Egypt Niger should seize Africa and press the Roman people with a shortage of the grain-supply. 8 He left Domitius Dexter as prefect of the city in place of Bassus, and within thirty days from when he had come to Rome he set out. 9 Having gone out from the city to Saxa Rubra, he suffered a huge mutiny by the army on account of the site for laying out the camp.

10 Occurrit ei et statim Geta frater suus, quem provinciam sibi creditam regere praecepit aliud sperantem. 11 Nigri liberos ad se adductos in eo habuit honore, quo suos. 12 Miserat sane legionem, quae Graeciam Thraciamque praeciperet, ne eas Pescennius occuparet, sed iam Byzantium Niger tenebat.

10 His brother Geta met him also, and immediately; whom he ordered to govern the province entrusted to him, though he was hoping for something else. 11 He held the children of Niger, brought to him, in the same honor in which he held his own. 12 He had indeed sent a legion to preoccupy Greece and Thrace, lest Pescennius seize them; but already Niger was holding Byzantium.

13 Perinthum etiam Niger volens occupare plurimos de exercitu interficit atque ideo hostis cum Aemiliano est appellatus. 14 Cumque Severum ad participatum vocaret, contemtus est. 15 Promisit sane Nigro tutum exilium, si vellet, Aemiliano autem non ignovit.

13 He also, wishing to occupy Perinthus, killed very many of the army and therefore was called an enemy together with Aemilianus. 14 And when he was calling Severus to participation (a partnership), he was contemned. 15 He indeed promised to Niger a safe exile, if he wished, but he did not pardon Aemilianus.

16 Aemilianus dehinc in Hellesponto a Severi ducibus Cyzicum primum confugit atque inde in aliam civitatem, in qua eorum iussus occisus est. 17 Fusae sunt item copiae ab isdem ducibus etiam Nigri.

16 Thereafter Aemilianus, in the Hellespont, fled first to Cyzicus by the generals of Severus and from there to another city, in which, by their order, he was slain. 17 Likewise, the forces of Niger too were routed by the same generals.

IX. 1 His auditis ad senatum Severus quasi confectis rebus litteras misit. Dein conflixit cum Nigro eumque apud Cyzicum interemit caputque eius pilo circumtulit. 2 Filios Nigri post hoc, quos suorum liberorum cultu haberat, in exilium cum matre misit.

9. 1 With these things heard, Severus sent letters to the senate as if the affairs had been finished. Then he clashed with Niger and slew him at Cyzicus and carried his head around on a spear. 2 After this he sent the sons of Niger, whom he had kept with the status of his own children, into exile with their mother.

3 Litteras ad senatum de victoria dedit neque quemquam senatorum, qui Nigri partium fuerant, praeter unum supplicio adfecit. 4 Antiochensibus iratior fuit, quod et administrantem se in oriente inriserant et Nigrum etiam victum iuverant. Denique multa his ademit.

3 He gave letters to the senate about the victory, and he subjected none of the senators who had been of Niger’s party to punishment, except one. 4 He was more irate toward the Antiochenes, because they had mocked him while he was administering in the East, and they had even helped Niger after he was defeated. Finally, he took away many things from them.

5 Neapolitanis etiam Palaestinensibus ius civitatis tulit, quod pro Nigro diu in armis fuerunt. 6 In multos s<aev>e animadvertit, praeter ordinem senatorium, qui Nigrum fuerant secuti. 7 Multas etiam civitates eiusdem partis iniuriis adfecit et damnis.

5 He deprived the Neapolitans and even the Palestinians of the right of citizenship, because they had long been in arms for Niger. 6 He punished many savagely, apart from the senatorial order, who had followed Niger. 7 He also afflicted many cities of the same party with injuries and losses.

8 Eos senatores occidit, qui cum Nigro militaverant ducum vel tribunorum nomine. 9 Deinde circa Arabiam plura gessit. Parthis etiam in dicionem redactis nec non etiam Adiabenis, qui quidem omnes cum Pescennio senserant.

8 He killed those senators who had served with Niger under the title of commanders or tribunes. 9 Then he carried out several operations around Arabia, and he also brought the Parthians into his dominion, as well as the Adiabenes, who indeed had all sided with Pescennius.

10 Atque ob hoc reversus triumpho delato appellatus est Arabicus Adiabenicus Parthicus. 11 Sed triumphum respuit, ne videretur de civili triumphare victoria. Excusavit et Parthicum nomen, ne Parthos lacesseret.

10 And on account of this, upon his return, with a triumph decreed, he was styled Arabicus, Adiabenicus, Parthicus. 11 But he refused the triumph, lest he seem to triumph for a civil victory. He also excused the Parthian title, lest he provoke the Parthians.

X. 1 Redeunti sane Romam post bellum civile Nigri aliud bellum civile Clodi Albini nuntiatum est, qui rebellavit in Gallia. Quare postea occisi sunt cum matre. 2 Albinum igitur statim hostem iudicavit et eos, qui ad illum mollius vel scripserunt vel rescripserunt.

10. 1 To the one indeed returning to Rome after the civil war of Niger, another civil war of Clodius Albinus was announced, who rebelled in Gaul. Wherefore afterwards were slain with their mother. 2 Therefore he immediately judged Albinus an enemy, and also those who wrote or wrote back to him more mildly.

3 Et cum iret contra Albinum, in itinere apud Viminacium filium suum maiorem Bassianum adposito Aurelii Antonini nomine Caesarem appellavit, ut fratrem suum Getam ab spe imperii, quam ille conceperat, summoveret. 4 Et nomen quidem Antonini idcirco filio adposuit, quod somniaverat Antoninum sibi successurum. 5 Unde Getam etiam quidam Antoninum putant dictum, ut et ipse succederet in imperio.

3 And as he was going against Albinus, on the journey at Viminacium he styled his elder son Bassianus “Caesar,” with the name “Aurelius Antoninus” appended, in order to remove his brother Geta from the hope of the imperial power, which the latter had conceived. 4 And indeed he added the name Antoninus to his son for this reason, that he had dreamed that an Antoninus would succeed him. 5 Whence some think that Geta too was called Antoninus, so that he also might succeed to the empire.

6 Aliqui putant idcirco illum Antoninum appellatum, quod Severus ipse in Marci familiam transire voluerit. 7 Et primo quidem ab Albinianis Severi duces victi sunt. Tunc sollitus cum consuleret, a Pannonicianis auguribus comperit se victorem futurum, adversarium vero nec in potestatem venturum neque evasurum, sed iuxta aquam esse periturum.

6 Some think that therefore he was called Antoninus, because Severus himself wished to pass into the family of Marcus. 7 And at first indeed the commanders of Severus were defeated by the Albinian party. Then, when, as was his custom, he consulted, he learned from Pannonian augurs that he would be the victor, but that his adversary would neither come into his power nor escape, but would perish near water.

8 Multi statim amici Albini deserentes venere, multi duces capti sunt, in quos Severus animadvertit.

8 Many friends of Albinus, deserting him, came at once; many commanders were captured, against whom Severus took punitive action.

XI. 1 Multis interim varie gestis in Gallia primo apud Tinurtum contra Albinum felicissime pugnavit Severus; 2 cum quidem ingens periculum equi casu adit, ita ut mortuus ictu plumbeae crederetur, ut alius iam paene imperator ab exercitu diligeretur. 3 Eo tempore lectis actis, quae de Clodio Celsino laudanto, qui Adrumetinus et adfinis Albini erat, facta sunt, iratus senatui Severus, quasi hoc Albino senatus praestitisset, Commodum inter divos referendum esse censuit, quasi hoc genere se de senatu posset ulcisci. 4 Priusque inter milites divum Commodum pronuntiavit idque ad senatum scripsit addita oratione victoriae.

11. 1 Many things meanwhile variously done in Gaul, first at Tinurtum Severus fought most felicitously against Albinus; 2 when indeed he approached a huge peril by the fall of his horse, such that he was believed dead by the blow of a leaden bullet, so that already almost another emperor was being chosen by the army. 3 At that time, the acts having been read which had been made in praising Clodius Celsinus, who was an Adrumetan and a kinsman-by-marriage (affine) of Albinus, Severus, angry at the senate, as if the senate had afforded this to Albinus, judged that Commodus must be enrolled among the gods, as if by this kind he could avenge himself upon the senate. 4 And first he proclaimed among the soldiers “divine Commodus,” and he wrote this to the senate with a victory oration added.

5 Senatorum deinde, qui in bello erant interempti, cadavera dissipari iussit. 6 Deinde Albini corpore adlato paene seminecis caput abscidi iussit Romamque deferri idque litteris prosecutus est. 7 Victus est Albinus die XI. kal.

5 Then he ordered the corpses of the senators who had been slain in the war to be scattered. 6 Then, when Albinus’s body—he had been almost lifeless—was brought in, he ordered the head to be cut off and carried to Rome, and he followed this up with a letter. 7 Albinus was defeated on the 11th day before the Kalends.

Martias. reliquum autem cadaver eius ante domum propriam exponi ac dui iacere iussit. 8 Equum praeterea ipse residens supra cadaver Albini egit expascentemque admonuit, ut et effrenatus audacter protereret.

March. moreover, he ordered the remainder of his cadaver to be exposed before his own house and to lie there for a long time. 8 Besides, he himself, seated, drove the horse over Albinus’s cadaver, and, as it grazed, urged it that, even unbridled, it should boldly trample it down.

9 Addunt alii, quod idem cadaver in Rhodanum abici praecepit, simuletiam uxoris liberorumque eius.

9 Others add that he ordered the same corpse to be thrown into the Rhone, together with those of his wife and children.

XII. 1 Interfectis innumeris Albini partium viris, inter quos multi principes civitatis, multae feminae inlustres fuerunt, omnium bona publicata sunt aerariumque auxerunt; cum et Hispanorum et Gallorum proceres multi occisi sunt. 2 Denique militibus tantum stipendiorum quantum nemo principum dedit.

12. 1 With innumerable men of Albinus’s party slain, among whom were many leading men of the state, and many illustrious women as well, the property of all was made public and augmented the treasury; since many nobles of the Spaniards and of the Gauls too were killed. 2 Finally, to the soldiers he gave so much in stipends as no emperor ever gave.

3 Filiis etiam suis ex hac proscriptione tantum reliquit quantum nullus imperatorum, cum magnam partem auri per Gallias, per Hispanias, per Italiam imperatoriam fecisset. 4 Tuncque primum privatarum rerum procuratio constituta est. 5 Multi sane post Albinum fidem ei servantes bello a Severo superati sunt.

3 He even left to his sons from this proscription as much as none of the emperors, since he had made a great part of the gold into imperial property throughout Gaul, throughout Spain, throughout Italy. 4 And then for the first time the procuratorship of private affairs was established. 5 Many indeed, after Albinus, maintaining faith to him, were overcome in war by Severus.

6 Eodem tempore etiam legio Arabica defecisse ad Albinum nuntiata est. 7 Ultus igitur graviter Albinianam defectionem interfectis plurimis, genere quoque eius extincto iratus Romam et populo et senatoribus venit. 8 Commodum in senatu et contione laudavit, deum appellavit, infamibus displicuisse dixit, ut appareret eum apertissime furere.

6 At the same time it was also reported that the Arabian legion had defected to Albinus. 7 Therefore, having grievously avenged the Albinian defection, with very many slain and his lineage also extinguished, in anger he came to Rome, wrathful against both the people and the senators. 8 He praised Commodus in the senate and in a public assembly, called him a god, and said that he had displeased the infamous, so that it was apparent that he was most openly raving.

9 Post hoc de sua clementia disseruit, cum crudelissimus fuerit et senatores infra scriptos occiderit.

9 After this he discoursed about his clemency, though he had been most cruel and had killed the senators written below.

XIII. 1 Occidit autem sine causae dictione hos nobiles: Mummium Secundinum, Asellium Claudianum, 2 Claudium Rufum, Vitalium Victorem, Papium Faustum, Aelium Celsum, Iulium Rufum, Lollium Professum, Aurunculeium Cornelianum, Antonium Balbum, Postumium Severum, 3 Sergium Lustralem, Fabium Paulinum, Nonnium Gracchum, Masticium Fabianum, Casperium Agrippinum, Caeionium Albinum, Claudium Sulpicianum, 4 Memmium Rufinum, Casperium Aemilianum, Cocceium Verum, Erucium Clarum, L. Stilonem, 5 Clodium Rufinum, Egnatuleium Honoratum, 6 Petronium Iuniorem, Pescennios Festum et Veratianum et Aurelianumet Materianum et Iulianum et Albinum, Cerellios Macrinum, et Faustinianum et Iulianum, 7 Herennium Nepotem, Sulpicium Canum, Valerium Catullinum, Novium Rufum, Claudium Arabianum, Marcum Asellionem. 8 Horum igitur tantorum ac tam inlustrium virorum—nam multi in his consulares, multi praetorii, omnes certe summi viri fuere—interfector ab Afris ut deus habetur.

13. 1 He killed, moreover, without any pleading of a case, these nobles: Mummius Secundinus, Asellius Claudianus, 2 Claudius Rufus, Vitalius Victor, Papius Faustus, Aelius Celsus, Julius Rufus, Lollius Professus, Aurunculeius Cornelianus, Antonius Balbus, Postumius Severus, 3 Sergius Lustralis, Fabius Paulinus, Nonnius Gracchus, Masticius Fabianus, Casperius Agrippinus, Caeionius Albinus, Claudius Sulpicianus, 4 Memmius Rufinus, Casperius Aemilianus, Cocceius Verus, Erucius Clarus, L. Stilo, 5 Clodius Rufinus, Egnatuleius Honoratus, 6 Petronius the Younger, the Pescennii Festus and Veratianus and Aurelianus and Materianus and Julianus and Albinus, the Cerellii Macrinus, and Faustinianus and Julianus, 7 Herennius Nepos, Sulpicius Canus, Valerius Catullinus, Novius Rufus, Claudius Arabianus, Marcus Asellio. 8 Therefore, of these so great and so illustrious men—for many among them were consulars, many of praetorian rank, all certainly were men of the highest rank—their slayer is regarded by the Africans as a god.

9 Cincium Severum calumniatus est, quod se veneno adpetisset, atque ita interfecit.

9 He calumniated Cincius Severus, on the ground that he had assailed him with poison, and thus he killed him.

XIV. 1 Narcissum dein, Commodi strangulatorem, leonibus obiecit. Multos praeterea obscuri loci homines interemit praeter eos, quos vis proelii absumpsit.

14. 1 Then he cast Narcissus, the strangler of Commodus, to the lions. He slew, moreover, many men of obscure station, besides those whom the violence of the battle consumed.

2 Post haec, cum se vellet commendare hominibus, vehicularium munusa privatis ad fiscum traduxit. 3 Caesarem dein Bassianum Antoninum a senatu appellari fecit decretis imperatoriis insignibus. 4 Rumor deinde belli Parthici extitit.

2 After these things, since he wished to commend himself to men, he transferred the duty of the vehicular service from private individuals to the fisc. 3 Then he caused Bassianus Antoninus to be called Caesar by the senate, with the imperial insignia decreed. 4 Then there arose a rumor of a Parthian war.

patri, matri, avo et uxori priori per se statuas conlocavit. 5 Plautianum ex amicissimo cognita eius vita ita odio habuit, ut et hostem publicum appellaret et depositis statuis eius per orbem terrae gravi eum insigniret iniuria, iratus praecipue, quod inter propinquorum et adfinium Severi simulacra suam statuam ille posuisset. 6 Palaestinis poenam remisit, quam ob causam Nigri meruerant.

to his father, mother, grandfather, and prior wife he set up statues by himself. 5 Plautianus, from being a most intimate friend, once his life was known, he held in such hatred that he both called him a public enemy and, with his statues removed throughout the orb of the earth, branded him with a grievous injury, angry especially because that man had placed his own statue among the images of Severus’s kinsmen and affines. 6 To the Palestinians he remitted the penalty which they had merited on account of the cause of Niger.

7 Postea iterum cum Plautiano in gratiam redit et veluti ovans urbem ingressus Capitolium petit, quamvis et ipsum procedenti tempore occiderit. 8 Getae minori filio togam virilem dedit, maiori Plautiani filiam uxorem iunxit. Hi, qui hostem publicum Plautianum dixerant, deportati sunt.

7 Afterwards he again returns into favor with Plautianus and, as though in ovation, having entered the city he made for the Capitol, although he too killed him at a later time. 8 To Geta, his younger son, he gave the toga virile; to the elder he joined Plautianus’s daughter as wife. Those who had called Plautianus a public enemy were deported.

9 Ita omnium rerum semper quasi naturali lege mutatio est. 10 Filios dein consules designavit. Getam fratrem extulit.

9 Thus the mutation of all things is always, as if by a natural law. 10 Then he designated his sons as consuls. He exalted Geta, his brother.

11 Profectus dehinc ad bellum Parthicum est edito gladiatorio munere et congiario populo dato. 12 Multos inter haec causis vel veris simulatis occidit. 13 Damnabantur autem plerique, cur iocati essent, alii, cur tacuissent, alii, pleraque figurata dixissent, ut "Ecce imperator vere nominis sui, vere Pertinax, vere Severus".

11 Then he set out for the Parthian war, after a gladiatorial munus had been staged and a congiarium given to the people. 12 Meanwhile he killed many on charges either real or simulated. 13 Moreover, most were condemned because they had joked; others, because they had kept silent; others, because they had said many things in figurative speech, as: "Behold an emperor truly of his name—truly Pertinax, truly Severus."

XV. 1 Erat sane in sermone vulgari Parthicum bellum adfectare Septimium Severum gloriae cupiditate, non aliqua necessitate deductum. 2 Traiecto denique exercitu a Brundisio continuato itinere venit in Syriam Parthosque sommovit. 3 Sed postea in Syriam redit, ita ut se pararet ac bellum Parthis inferret.

15. 1 It was indeed in common parlance that Septimius Severus was aiming at a Parthian war from a cupidity for glory, not induced by any necessity. 2 With the army ferried across from Brundisium, at length, by a continuous journey he came into Syria and drove the Parthians away. 3 But afterwards he returned into Syria, so that he prepared himself and brought war upon the Parthians.

4 Inter haec Pescennianas reliquias Plautiano auctore persequebatur, ita ut nonnullos etiam ex amicis suis quasi vitae suae insidiatores appeteret. 5 Multos etiam, quasi Chaldaeos aut vates de sua salute consuluissent, interemit, praaecipue suspectans unumquemque idoneum imperio, cum ipse parvulos adhuc filios haberet idque dici ad his vel crederet vel audiret, qui sibi augurabantur imperium. 6 Denique cum occisi essent nonnulli, Severus se excusabat et post eorum mortem negabat fieri iussisse, quod factum est.

4 Meanwhile he was pursuing the Pescennian remnants at the instigation of Plautianus, such that he even attacked some of his own friends as would-be assassins of his life. 5 He also put many to death, on the pretext that they had consulted Chaldaeans or vates about his safety, especially suspecting each man suitable for the imperium, since he himself still had very small sons, and he either believed or heard that this was being said by those who were auguring the imperium for themselves. 6 Finally, when several had been killed, Severus excused himself and, after their death, denied that he had ordered to be done what was done.

Quod de Laeto praecipue Marius Maximus dicit. 7 Cum soror sua Leptitana ad eum venisset vix Latine loquens ac de illa multum imperator erubesceret, dato filio eius lato clavo atque ipsi multis muneribus redire mulierem in patriam praecepit, et quidem cum filio, qui brevi vita defunctus est.

Which Marius Maximus says especially about Laetus. 7 When his sister from Leptis had come to him, scarcely speaking Latin, and the emperor was much abashed on her account, with the broad stripe having been given to her son and to herself many gifts, he ordered the woman to return to her fatherland, and indeed with her son, who, after a brief life, died.

XVI. 1 Aestate igitur iam exeunte Parthiam ingressus Ctesifontem pulso rege pervenit et cepit hiemali prope tempore, quod in illis regionibus melius per hiemem bella tractantur, cum herbarum radicibus milites viverent atque inde morbos aegritudinesque contraherent. 2 Quare cum obsistentibus Parthis, fluente quoque per insuetudinem cibi alvo militum longius ire non posset, tamen perstitit et oppidum cepit et regem fugavit et plurimos interemit et Parthicum nomen meruit.

16. 1 Therefore, with summer now ending, having entered Parthia he reached Ctesiphon with the king driven back, and took it at almost the winter season, because in those regions wars are better handled through the winter, since the soldiers were living on the roots of herbs and from that were contracting diseases and sicknesses. 2 Wherefore, with the Parthians resisting, and with the bowels of the soldiers also flowing from unfamiliarity with the food, so that he could not go farther, nevertheless he persisted and seized the town and put the king to flight and slew very many, and merited the cognomen Parthicus.

3 Ob quae etiam filium eius Bassianum Antoninum, qui Caesar appellatus iam fuerat, annum XIII. agentem participem imperii dixerunt milites. 4 Getam quoque, minorem filium, Caesarem dixerunt, eundem Antoninum, ut plerique in litteras tradunt, appellantes.

3 On account of which things, the soldiers also declared his son Bassianus Antoninus, who had already been called Caesar, a participant in the imperium, being in his 13th year. 4 They likewise declared Geta, the younger son, Caesar, calling him also Antoninus, as most set down in writings.

5 Harum appellationum causa donativum militibus largissimum dedit concessa omni praeda oppidi Parthici, quod milites quaerebant, inde in Syriam redit victor et Parthicus. 6 Deferentibus sibi patribus triumphum idcirco recusavit, quod consistere in curru affectus articulari morbo non posset. 7 Filio sane concessit, ut triumpharet; cui senatus Iudaicum triumphum decreverat, idcirco quod et in Syria res bene gestae fuerant a Severo.

5 For the sake of these appellations he gave the soldiers a most lavish donative, with all the booty of the Parthian town granted—which the soldiers were seeking—whence he returns into Syria, victorious and “Parthicus.” 6 When the Fathers were conferring a triumph upon him, he refused it for this reason: because, afflicted with an articular disease, he could not stand in the chariot. 7 He did, to be sure, grant it to his son, that he might triumph; to whom the senate had decreed a Judaean triumph, for the reason that in Syria affairs had been well conducted by Severus.

8 Dein cum Antiochiam transisset, data virili toga filio maiori secum eum consulem designavit, et statim in Syria consulatum inierunt. 9 Post hoc dato stipendio cumulatiore militibus Alexandriam petit.

8 Then, when he had crossed over to Antioch, with the manly toga given to his elder son, he designated him consul with himself, and immediately in Syria they entered upon the consulship. 9 After this, with a more cumulate stipend given to the soldiers, he made for Alexandria.

XVII. 1 In itinere Palaestinis plurima iura fundavit. Iudaeos fieri subgravi poena vetuit.

17. 1 On the journey he established very many juridical rights for the Palestinians. He forbade becoming Jews under a rather grave penalty.

Idem etiam de Christianis sanxit. 2 Deinde Alexandrinis ius buleutarum dedit, qui sine publico consilio ita ut sub regibus ante vivebant uno iudice contenti, quem Caesar dedisset. 3 Multa praeterea his iura mutavit.

He likewise enacted the same concerning the Christians. 2 Then to the Alexandrians he gave the right of the bouleutae, who, without a public council, were living as formerly under the kings, content with a single judge whom Caesar had appointed. 3 Moreover, he altered many of their laws besides.

4 Iucundam sibi peregrinationem hanc propter religionem dei Sarapidis et propter rerum antiquarum cognitionem et propter novitatem animalium vel locorum fuisse Severus ipse postea semper ostendit; nam et Memfim et Memnonem et piramides et labyrinthum inspexit. 5 Et quoniam longum est minora persequi, huius magnifica illa, quod victo et occiso Iuliano praetorianas cohortes exauctoravit, Pertinacem contra voluntatem militum in deos rettulit, Salvii Iuliani decreta iussit aboleri; quod non optinuit. 6 Denique cognomentum Pertinacis non tam ex sua voluntate quam ex morum parsimonia videtur habuisse.

4 Pleasant to himself this peregrination was, on account of the religion of the god Sarapis and on account of the cognition of antiquities and on account of the novelty of animals or places, as Severus himself afterward always showed; for he inspected Memphis and Memnon and the pyramids and the labyrinth. 5 And since it is long to pursue lesser matters, these were his magnificent deeds: that, with Julianus conquered and slain, he cashiered the Praetorian cohorts, he enrolled Pertinax among the gods against the soldiers’ will, he ordered the decrees of Salvius Julianus to be abolished; which he did not obtain. 6 Finally, he seems to have had the cognomen Pertinax not so much from his own wish as from the parsimony of his manners.

7 Nam et infinita multorum caede crudelior habitus et, cum quidam ex hostibus eidem se suppliciter optulisset atque dixisset, ille quod facturus esset, non est mollitus tam prudente dicto interfici eum iussit. 8 Fuit praeterea delendarum cupidus factionum, prope a nullo congressu <digressus> nisi victor.

7 For he too was held more cruel by the infinite slaughter of many; and when a certain one of the enemies had offered himself to him as a suppliant and had said what he was going to do, he, not softened by so prudent a saying, ordered him to be killed. 8 Moreover, he was desirous of factions being destroyed, scarcely withdrawing from any engagement except as victor.

XVIII. 1 Persarum regem Abgarum subegit. Arabas in dicionem accepit.

18. 1 He subjugated Abgarus, king of the Persians. He received the Arabs into his dominion.

Adiabenos in tributarios coegit. 2 Brittanniam, quod maximum eius imperii decus est, muro pert ransversam insulam ducto utrimque ad finem Oceani munivit. 3 Unde etiam Brittannici nomen accepit.

He reduced the Adiabenians to tributaries. 2 Britain, which is the greatest ornament of his empire, he fortified with a wall drawn across the island, on both sides to the end of the Ocean. 3 Whence he also received the name Britannicus.

Tripolim, unde oriendus erat, contusis bellicosissimis gentibus securissimam reddidit ac p. R. diurnum oleum gratuitum et fecundissimum in aeternum donavit. 4 Idem cum inplacabilis delictis fuit, tum ad erigendos industrios quosque iudicii singularis. 5 Philosophiae ac dicendi studiis satis deditus, doctrinae quoque nimis cupidus.

Tripoli, whence he was to originate, with the most warlike peoples crushed, he rendered most secure, and to the Roman People he donated in perpetuity a daily oil ration, free and most bountiful. 4 The same man, while he was implacable toward offenses, was of singular judgment for raising up each industrious person. 5 Sufficiently devoted to the studies of philosophy and of speaking, and excessively desirous of learning as well.

Latronum ubique hostis. 6 Vitam suam privatam publicamque ipse composuit ad finem, solum tamen vitium crudelitatis excusans. 7 De hoc senatus ita iudicavit illum aut nasci non debuisse aut mori, quod et nimis crudelis et nimis utilis rei publicae videretur.

An enemy of robbers everywhere. 6 He himself ordered his private and public life to the end, excusing only the vice of cruelty. 7 Concerning this man the senate judged thus: that he ought either not to have been born, or to die, because he seemed both too cruel and too useful to the Republic.

8 Domi tamen minus cautus, qui uxorem luliam famosam adulteriis tenuit, ream etiam coniurationis. 9 Idem, cum pedibus aeger bellum moraretur idque milites anxie ferrent eiusque filium Bassianum, qui una erat, Augustum fecissent, tolli se atque in tribunal ferri iussit, adesse deinde omnes tribunos, centuriones, duces et cohortes, quibus auctoribus id acciderat, sisti deinde filium, qui Augusti nomen acceperat. 10 Cumque animadverti in omnes auctores facti praeter filium iuberet rogareturque omnibus ante tribunal prostratis, caput manu contingens ait : 11 "Tandem sentitis caput imperare, non pedes." huius dictum est, cum eum ex humili per litterarum et militiae officia ad imperium plurimis gradibus fortuna duxisset : "Omnia", inquit, "fui et nihil expedit."

8 At home, however, less cautious, in that he held his wife Julia, notorious for adulteries, as even a defendant of conspiracy. 9 The same man, when, sick in his feet, he was delaying the war and the soldiers were bearing that anxiously, and had made his son Bassianus, who was together with him, Augustus, ordered that he be lifted up and carried onto the tribunal, then that all the tribunes, centurions, leaders, and cohorts, by whose authorship that had happened, be present, then that his son, who had received the name of Augustus, be set forth. 10 And when he ordered punishment to be inflicted upon all the authors of the deed except his son, and was entreated, with all prostrate before the tribunal, touching his head with his hand he said : 11 "At last you perceive that the head commands, not the feet." Of this man it is said, when Fortune had led him from a low estate through the offices of letters and of military service by very many steps to the imperial power: "Everything," he said, "I have been, and nothing expedites."

XIX. 1 Perit Eboraci in Brittannia subactis gentibus, quae Brittanniae videbantur infestae, anno imperii XVIII., morbo gravissimo extinctus, iam senex. 2 Reliquit filios duos, Antonium Bassianum et Getam, cui et ipsi in honorem Marci Antonini nomen inposuit.

19. 1 He perished at Eboracum in Britain, the tribes which seemed hostile to Britain having been subdued, in the 18th year of his reign, carried off by a very severe illness, already an old man. 2 He left two sons, Antoninus Bassianus and Geta, upon whom also he imposed, in honor of Marcus Antoninus, the name.

3 Inlatus sepulchro Marci Antonini, quem ex omnibus imperatoribus tantum coluit, ut et Commodum in divos referret et Antonini nomen omnibus deinceps quasi Augusti ad scribendum putaret. 4 Ipse a senatu agendibus liberis, qui ei funus amplissimum exhibuerant, inter divos est relatus. 5 Opera publica praecipua eius extant Septizonium et thermae Severianae, eiusdemque Septimianae in Transtiberina regione ad portam nominis sui, quarum forma intercidens statim usum publicum invidit.

3 Borne into the sepulcher of Marcus Antoninus, whom of all the emperors he so greatly honored that he even referred Commodus among the divi and thought that the name “Antoninus” thereafter should be written by all as a quasi “Augustus.” 4 He himself, by the senate—his children conducting the proceedings, who had provided him a most ample funeral—was numbered among the divi. 5 His principal public works extant are the Septizonium and the Severian baths, and likewise the Septimian ones in the Transtiberine region at the gate of his own name, whose structure, collapsing, straightway denied public use.

6 Iudicium de eo post mortem magnum omnium fuit, maxime quod diu neca filiis eius boni aliquid rei p. venit et postea invadentibus multis rem p. Romana praedonibus direptui fuit. 7 Hic tam exiguis vestibus usus est, ut vix et tunica eius aliquid purpurae haberet, cum hirta clamyde umeros velaret. 8 Cibi parcissimus, leguminis patrii avidus, vini aliquando cupidus, carnis frequenter ignarus.

6 The judgment concerning him after death was very great among all, especially because for a long time not even from his sons did anything good come to the commonwealth, and afterward, with many marauders invading, the Roman commonwealth was given over to depredation. 7 He used such meager garments that scarcely even his tunic had any purple, while he covered his shoulders with a shaggy chlamys. 8 Most sparing of food, eager for his native pulse, sometimes desirous of wine, often ignorant of flesh.

9 Ipse decorus, ingens, promissa barba, cano capite et crispo, vultu reverendus, canorus voce, sed Afrum quiddam usque ad senectutem sonans. 10 Ac multum post mortem amatus vel invidia deposita vel crudelitatis metu.

9 He himself was comely, immense, with a grown-out beard, gray-headed and curly, reverend in countenance, canorous of voice, but sounding somewhat African even up to old age. 10 And much loved after death, either with envy laid aside or with the fear of cruelty removed.

XX. 1 Legisse me apud Aelium Maurum Phlegontis Hadriani libertum memini Septimium Severum immoderatissime, cum moreretur, laetatum, quod duos Antoninos pari imperio rei p. relinqueret exemplo Pii, qui Verum et Marcum Antoninos per adoptionem filios rei p. reliquit, 2 hoc melius quod ille filios per adoptionem, hic per se genitos rectores Romanae rei p. daret : Antoninum scilicet Bassianum quidem ex priore matrimonio susceperat et Getam de Iulia genuerat. 3 Sed illum multum spes fefellit. nam unum parricidium, alterum sui mores rei p. inviderunt, sanctumque illud nomen in nullo diu bene mansit.

20. 1 I remember having read in Aelius Maurus, the freedman of Phlegon, Hadrian’s freedman, that Septimius Severus rejoiced most immoderately, as he was dying, because he would leave to the commonwealth two Antonines with equal imperium, after the example of Pius, who left Verus and Marcus, Antonines, as adopted sons to the commonwealth, 2 this the better, that the former gave sons by adoption, whereas he would give, as rectors of the Roman commonwealth, sons begotten by himself: namely, he had accepted Antoninus Bassianus indeed from a prior marriage, and had begotten Geta from Julia. 3 But hope greatly deceived him: for one, parricide; for the other, his own character begrudged him to the commonwealth, and that sacred name endured well in no one for long.

4 Et reputanti mihi, Diocletiane Auguste, neminem facile magnorum virorum optimum et utilem filium reliquisse satis claret. 5 Denique aut sine liberis viri interierunt aut tales habuerunt plerique, ut melius fuerit de rebus humanis sine posteritate discedere.

4 And, as I reflect, Diocletian Augustus, it is sufficiently clear that scarcely any of the great men has left behind a son both excellent and useful. 5 Finally, either the men perished without children, or most had such that it would have been better to depart from human affairs without posterity.

XXI. 1 Et ut ordiamur a Romulo: hic nihil liberorum reliquit, nihil Numa Pompilius, quod utile posset esse rei p. Quid Camillus ? Num sui similes liberos habuit ? Quid Scipio ? Quid Catones qui magni fuerunt ? 2 Iam vero quid de Homero, Demosthene, Vergilio, Crispo et Terentio, Plauto ceterisque aliis loquar ? Quid de Caesare ? Quid de Tullio, cui soli melius fuerat liberos non habere? 3 Quid de Augusto, qui nec adoptivum bonum filium habuit, cum illi legendi potestas fuisset ex omnibus ? Falsus est etiam ipse Traianus in suo municipe ac nepote diligendo.

21. 1 And to begin from Romulus: he left no children; Numa Pompilius nothing that could be useful to the republic. What of Camillus? Did he have children like himself? What of Scipio? What of the Catos who were great? 2 And now indeed what shall I say about Homer, Demosthenes, Vergil, Crispus and Terence, Plautus and the rest of the others? What of Caesar? What of Tullius, for whom alone it would have been better not to have children? 3 What of Augustus, who did not even have a good adoptive son, though he had the power of choosing from all? Even Trajan himself was mistaken in loving his own fellow-townsman and nephew.

4 Sed ut omittamus adoptivos, ne nobis Antonini Pius et Marcus, numina rei publicae, occurrant, veniamus ad genitos. 5 Quid Marco felicius fuisset, si Commodum non reliquisset heredem ? 6 Quid Severo Septimio, si Bassianum nec genuisset ? Qui statim insimulatum fratrem insidiarum contra se cogitatarum parricidali etiam figmento interemit; 7 qui novercam suam- et quid novercam ? matrem quin immo, in cuius sinu Getam filium eius occiderat, uxorem duxit; 8 qui Papinianum, iuris asylum et doctrinae legatis thesaurum, quod parricidium excusare noluisset, occidit, et praefectumquidem, ne homini per se et per scientiam suam magno deesset et dignitas. 9 Denique, ut alia omittam, ex huius moribus factum puto, <ut> Severus tristior vir ad omnia, immo etiam crudelior pius et dignus deorum altaribus duceretur.

4 But so that we may omit the adoptives, lest Antoninus Pius and Marcus, divinities of the republic, occur to us, let us come to those begotten by blood. 5 What would have been happier for Marcus, if he had not left Commodus as heir ? 6 What for Septimius Severus, if he had not even begotten Bassianus ? Who at once slew his brother, accused of ambushes contrived against himself, with a parricidal pretense to boot; 7 who took his stepmother—and what stepmother ? nay rather his mother, in whose lap he had killed Geta, her son—as his wife; 8 who killed Papinianus, an asylum of law and, for the legacies of doctrine, a treasure, because he was unwilling to excuse parricide, and a prefect indeed—lest even dignity be lacking to a man great in himself and by his own knowledge. 9 Finally, to omit other things, I think it was brought about from this man’s morals, <that> Severus, a rather gloomier man in all things, nay even more cruel, should be led as pious and worthy to the altars of the gods.

10 Qui quidem divinam Sallusti orationem, qua Micipsa filios ad pacem hortatur, ingravatus morbo misisse filio dicitur maiori. Idque frustra. Et --- hominem tantum valetudine.

10 He indeed, weighed down by disease, is said to have sent to his elder son Sallust’s divine oration, in which Micipsa exhorts his sons to peace. And that was in vain. And — the man only by ill-health.

11 Vixit denique in odio populi diu Antoninus, nomenque illud venerabile diu minus amatum est, quamvis et vestimenta populo dederit, unde Caracalus est dictus, et thermas magnificentissimas fecerit. 12 Extat sane Romae Severi porticus gesta eius exprimens a filio, quantum plurimi docent, structa.

11 Antoninus, finally, lived long in the hatred of the people, and that venerable name was for a long time less loved, although he also gave garments to the people, whence he was called Caracalla, and made the most magnificent baths. 12 Indeed there exists at Rome the Portico of Severus, constructed by his son, portraying his deeds, as very many testify.

XXII. 1 Signa mortis eius haec fuerunt: ipse somniavit quattuor aquilis et gemmato curru praevolante nescio qua ingenti humana specie ad caelum esse raptum; cumque raperetur, octoginta et novem numeros explicuisse, ultra quot annos ne unum quidem annum vixit, nam ad imperium senex venit; 2 cumque positus esset in circulo ingenti aereo, diu solus et destitutus stetit. Cum vereretur autem, ne praeceps rueret a Iove se vocatum vidit atque inter Antoninos locatum.

22. 1 The signs of his death were these: he himself dreamed that, with four eagles and a gemmed chariot flying ahead, he was rapt to heaven by some immense human form; and, as he was being carried off, he ran through the numbers to 89, beyond which years he did not live even a single year, for he came to the imperium an old man; 2 and when he had been set in a huge brazen circle, he stood for a long time alone and forsaken. But when he feared lest he should fall headlong, he saw himself called by Jove and placed among the Antonines.

3 Die circensium cum tres Victoriolae more solito essent locatae gypseae cum palmis, media, quae ipsius nomine adscriptum orbem tenebat, vento icta de podio stans decidit et humi constitit; ea quae Getae nomine inscripta erat, corruit et omnis comminuta est; illa vero, quae Bassiani titulum praeferebat, amissa palma venti turbine vix constitit. 4 Post murum apud vallum visum in Brittannia cum ad proximam mansionem rediret non solum victor sed etiam in aeternum pace fundata volvens animo, quid ominis sibi occurreret, Aethiops quidam e numero militari, clarae inter scurras famae et celebratorum semper iocorum, cum corona e cupressu facta idem occurit. 5 Quem cum ille iratus removeri ab oculis praecepisset et coloris eius tactus omine et coronae, dixisse ille dicitur ioci causa : "Totum fuisti isti, totum vicisti, iam deus esto victor." 6 Et civitatem veniens cum rem divinam vellet facere, primum ad Bellonae templum ductus est errore haruspicis rustici, deinde hostiae furvae sunt adplicitae.

3 On a day of the Circus games, when three little Victorias of plaster, with palms, had been set up in the usual way, the middle one, which, holding an orb inscribed with his own name, was struck by the wind, fell down from the podium as it stood and came to a halt on the ground; the one that was inscribed with the name of Geta collapsed and was completely shattered; but that one which was bearing the title of Bassianus, having lost its palm in a whirlwind of wind, barely stood fast. 4 After the wall by the rampart had been seen in Britain, as he was returning to the nearest posting-station, turning over in his mind, not only as victor but with peace established for ever, what omen might present itself to him, a certain Ethiopian from the military ranks—of renowned fame among jesters and of jokes ever celebrated—met him with a crown made from cypress. 5 When he, angered, had ordered the man to be removed from his sight, touched by the omen of his color and of the crown, that man is said, for a joke, to have said : "You have been all for those, you have conquered all; now be a god, victor." 6 And coming to the city, when he wished to perform a divine rite, he was first led to the temple of Bellona by the error of a rustic haruspex; then dark-colored victims were brought up.

7 Quod cum esset aspernatus atque ad palatium se reciperet, neglegentia ministrorum nigriae hostiae, et usque ad limen domus Palatinae, imperatorem secutae sunt.

7 When he had spurned this and was withdrawing to the palace, through the negligence of the ministers the black sacrificial victims followed the emperor even up to the threshold of the Palatine house.

XXIII. 1 Sunt per plurimas civitates opera eius insigna. Magnum vero illud in civilitate eius, quod Romae omnes aedes publicas, quae vitio temporum labebantur, instauravit nusquam prope suo nomine adscripto, servatis tamen ubique titulis conditorum.

23. 1 There are, through very many cities, his remarkable works. Truly great, moreover, was this in his civility: that at Rome he restored all the public buildings which were sinking by the fault of the times, with his own name scarcely anywhere inscribed, yet with the inscriptions of the founders preserved everywhere.

2 Moriens septem annorum canonem, ita ut cottidiana septuaginta quinque milia modium expendi possent, reliquit; olei verotantum, ut per quinquennium non solum <urbis> usibus, sed et totius Italiae, quae oleo eget, sufficeret. 3 Ultima verba eius dicuntur haec fuisse : "Turbatam rem p. ubique accepi, pacatam etiam Brittannis relinquo, senex ac pedibus aeger firmum imperium Antoninis meis relinquens, si boni erunt, imbecillum. si mali." 4 Iussit deinde signum tribuno dari "laboremus", quia Pertinax, quando in imperium adscitus est, signum dederat "militemus". 5 Fortunam deinde regiam, quae comitari principes et in cubiculis poni solebat, geminare statuerat, ut sacratissimum simulacrum utrique relinqueret filiorum; 6 sed cum videret se perurgueri sub hora mortis, iussisse fertur, ut alternis diebus apud filios imperatores in cubiculis Fortuna poneretur.

2 Dying, he left a seven-year canon, such that each day seventy-five thousand modii could be expended; and of oil, indeed, so much that for 5 years it would suffice not only for the needs of the <City>, but also of all Italy, which requires oil. 3 His last words are said to have been these: "I received the commonwealth disturbed everywhere; I leave it pacified even for the Britons, an old man and sick in my feet, leaving a firm empire to my Antonines, if they will be good; feeble, if evil." 4 He then ordered the watchword to be given to the tribune, "let us labor," because Pertinax, when he was admitted to the empire, had given the watchword, "let us soldier." 5 Next, he had decided to duplicate the royal Fortune, which was accustomed to accompany princes and to be placed in their bedchambers, so that he might leave the most sacred image to each of his sons; 6 but when he saw himself pressed at the hour of death, he is said to have ordered that on alternate days Fortune be placed in the bedchambers of his sons, the emperors.

7 Quod Bassianus prius contempsit quam faceret parricidium.

7 Which Bassianus contemned before he committed parricide.

XXIV. 1 Corpus eius a Brittannia Romam usque cum magna provincialium reverentia susceptum est; 2 quamvis aliqui urnulam auream tantum fuisse dicant Severi reliquias continentem eandemque Antoninorum sepulchro inlatam, cum Septimius illic, ubi vita functus est, esset incensus. 3 Cum Septizodium faceret, nihil aliud cogitavit quam ut ex Africa venientibus suum opus occurreret 4 et, nisi absente eo per praefectum urbis medium simulacrum eius esset locatum, aditum Palatinis aedibus, id est regium atrium, ab ea parte facere voluisse perhibetur.

24. 1 His body was conveyed from Britain all the way to Rome, being received with great reverence by the provincials; 2 although some say that there was only a little golden urn containing Severus’s remains, and that the same was brought into the sepulcher of the Antonines, since Septimius had been cremated there where he finished his life. 3 When he was making the Septizodium, he thought of nothing else than that his work should meet those coming from Africa 4 and, had not, while he was absent, his central statue been placed by the prefect of the city, he is said to have wished to make an approach to the Palatine buildings, that is, the royal atrium, from that side.

5 Quod etiam post Alexander cum vellet facere, ab aruspicibus dicitur esse prohibitus, cum hoc sciscitans non litasset.

5 Which, too, later Alexander, when he wished to do it, is said to have been forbidden by the haruspices, since, when inquiring about this, he did not obtain favorable omens.