Severus II

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Severus II
Constantius I)
BornFlavius Severus
Illyria
DiedSeptember 307
Tres Tabernae
IssueFlavius Severianus
Names
Flavius Valerius Severus

Flavius Valerius Severus (died September 307), also called Severus II,[1] was a Roman emperor from 306 to 307. After failing to besiege Rome, he fled to Ravenna. It is thought that he was killed there or executed near Rome.

Background and early career

Severus was of humble birth, born in Northern Illyria around the middle of the third century.[2][3] A friend of emperor Galerius, he rose to become a senior officer in the Roman army,[2] being nominated as caesar of the Western Roman Empire. According to Lactantius, Diocletian objected to Galerius's suggestion, saying in response, "What! That dancer, that habitual drunkard who turns night into day and day into night?" Galerius persisted, saying that Severus has served faithfully as paymaster and purveyor of the army.[4] Diocletian acquiesced and Severus succeeded to the post of caesar on 1 May 305,[5] thus becoming the junior colleague of Constantius I, augustus of the western half of empire.[2]

Augustus, 306–307

On the death of Constantius I in Britain in the summer of 306, Severus was promoted to

Constantine I (Constantius' son) by his own soldiers at York.[6] Lactantius reports that Galerius had done this to promote the older man to the higher office, while accepting the imperial symbols of Constantine and accepting him as a member of the Tetrarchy, albeit with the rank of caesar.[4]

When

Tres Tabernae.[7] One belief is that when Galerius himself invaded Italy to suppress Maxentius and Maximian, the former ordered Severus's death; he was executed on September 307 at Tres Tabernae, near the current Cisterna di Latina.[3] Lactantius reports that he was permitted to kill himself by opening his veins.[4] Another belief is that Severus II was killed in Ravenna.[5][8]

Severus was survived by his son Flavius Severianus, but he was later killed by Licinius.[9]

References

  1. ^ Kienast, Romische Kaisertabelle (1990), p. 290. Enumerated after Septimius Severus.
  2. ^ a b c d e Michael DiMalo (1998). "Severus II". An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Aurelius Victor, About Caesar" (in Russian). Ancient Rome. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. ^ , pp. 31-47
  5. ^ a b "Biography of Emperor Constantine" (in Russian). Ancient Rome. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  6. .
  7. ^ Barnes 1981, p. 30.
  8. ^ Annales Ecclesiastici, vol. 1, pp. 769-770
  9. ^ Barnes 1981, p. 64.

Sources

External links

Regnal titles
Preceded by Roman emperor
306–307
With: Galerius
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Constantine I
Succeeded by