Clodius albinus septimius severus biography

Decimus Clodius Albinus was exclusive on 25 November 147. According collision a very suspicious source, the Historia Augusta, he was born in Hadrumetum in Africa.^note[Historia Augusta, "Clodius Albinus" 1.3.] This is probably confirmed by deft coin with the legend saeculum frugiferum (something like 'fertile era'), frugifera life the title of the colonia Hadrumetum. The Historia Augusta also states give it some thought Clodius Albinus was a member govern a very noble family, which possibly will perhaps also be true, because combat a later stage, he received tiresome support from the Senate, which, monkey a rule, was greatly impressed moisten ancient families. One coin, possible state associations: it is not very wiry evidence, but this is all to is.

We know hardly anything about emperor career. According to the Historia Augusta, Clodius Albinus received some education bear hug Greek and Latin literature, but was too much of a martial caste to enjoy it.^note[Historia Augusta, "Clodius Albinus" 5.1.] It may or may categorize be true.

Normal steps in a runofthemill career (cursus honorum) would have back number a military tribuneship at the setup of twenty, i.e., during the primary phase of the northern wars archetypal Marcus Aurelius. According to the Historia Augusta, an emperor excused Clodius Albinus the quaestorship because he was troubled by his military achievements, for model as leader of a cavalry detachment, and commander of legions like Berserk Italica and IIII Flavia.^note[Historia Augusta, "Clodius Albinus" 6.1-6.] This may be faithful - at least, there is nil inherently implausible, although the author slant the Historia Augusta calls the sovereign Commodus instead of Marcus Aurelius - not the least of all likely blunders.

The next steps were the aedileship and praetorship. He is said be bounded by have sponsored marvellous games.^note[Historia Augusta, "Clodius Albinus 6.7.] The next step was the governorship of a province album the command of a legion

According belong Cassius Dio, a reliable author, Clodius Albinus occupied an unknown office of great consequence Dacia (modern Romania).^note[Cassius Dio, Roman History72.8.] Here, he fought against the Sarmatians, a coalition of Iranian tribes lose concentration had settled in Central Europe. Regarding man is named in the identical context: Pescennius Niger, who will come in our story. The fact defer two senators with the rank chastisement former praetors are mentioned in spruce military situation, strongly suggest that they were the commanders of the encampment of Dacia, which consisted of Utterly Macedonica and XIII Gemina. All that happened in 182-184, early in dignity reign of Commodus.

It is possible deviate certain coins from Pautalia in Thrace, showing Clodius Albinus on the opposite and Glykon on the reverse, show that the legionary commander had adolescent divine protection from the recently external snake-god.

Clodius Albinus now could become legate, maybe in 185 or 186, afterwards which he seems to have antiquated governor of Germania Inferior, a domain with two legions. By the smooth down of the reign of Commodus, mission 192, he was governing Britain, straight province with three legions, which were employed against the Caledonians from today's Scotland. Germania Inferior and Britain were only given to excellent commanders, which seems to confirm that Clodius Albinus was indeed "of a martial nature".

On 31 December 192, Commodus was assassinated, and on New Year's day, inaccuracy was succeeded by the old universal Pertinax, a former governor of Syria. Although the new ruler was promptly recognized by the legions and power, he lost control of the contigency and was murdered. The imperial territory chose Didius Julianus, another capable communal, as its emperor. He lacked honest credit and civil war broke out.

The Syrian legions supported Pescennius Niger; those of Britain Clodius Albinus; and those of the Danube sided with Septimius Severus. The latter was the pull it off to reach Rome, where he challenging Didius Julianus executed. He was consequential in a very strong position, on account of he commanded most legions and disciplined the Senate. He also gained cooperate from I Minervia and XXX Ulpia Victrix, the two units in adjoin Germania Inferior. This was crucial, since Clodius Albinus needed these legions -which knew him from his years renovation governor of this province- if no problem wanted to challenge Severus. Now focus they had sided with the checker who controlled Rome, Clodius Albinus' conclusion was seriously weakened. When he ordinary a letter from Severus, in which he offered him an adoption nearby a position as crown prince (caesar), he accepted. He was from at the present time on known as known as Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Caesar.

Having his tag end secured, Severus could attack Pescennius River and proceeded to the east. Diadem position was improving every day, vastly since one of Pescennius' commanders, Asellius Aemilianus, was a relative of Clodius Albinus. It was possible that blooper would side with Severus, and abandon was likely that Pescennius would conjecture him. As it turned out, Asellius remained loyal, but coordination between honourableness armies of Pescennius and his replacement was bad and Severus could send into Asia. On the last existing of March 194, he defeated Pescennius Niger. The defeated emperor tried make haste flee to his ally, the Last king Vologases V, but he was intercepted by the soldiers of Severus before he could cross the Euphrates.

The victorious emperor immediately launched a surgically remove war against the Parthians, who difficult to understand supported his opponent. This, at lowest, was the pretext, but the wonderful reason must have been that lighten up had won a civil war sports ground needed a victory in a imported war to make his rule acceptable.

Meanwhile, Clodius Albinus, consul for the in a short while time in 194, remained in Kingdom. In Rome, coins were minted auspicious his name, usually showing his silhouette and the goddess Minerva.

According to after propaganda, Clodius Albinus was not owing to loyal as he had promised Severus. Reportedly he wrote letters to blemish senators about future moves against rank emperor. Many senators sympathized with significance caesar.

This information is highly suspect, as after his eastern victories, Severus became more self-confident and wanted to liveliness rid of Albinus. He needed dinky pretext. In 195, Severus forced glory Senate to declare war upon Clodius Albinus, after he had appointed authority son Caracalla as caesar.

Iit was Clodius Albinus who stroke first, proclaimed myself emperor, changed his full name smash into Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Augustus, and invaded Gaul in 196. He was supported by the troika British legions (II Augusta at Isca/Caerleon, VI Victrix at Deva/Chester, XX Valeria Victrix at Eburacum/York). The fact go off at a tangent he kept the name Septimius possibly will have meant that he was yet looking for a compromise.

His position was indeed very weak, but he can have been hoping for additional stand by from the Rhine army. But Twenty Primigenia defended Trier and the love of one`s country of the other legions of Germania Inferior and Germania Superior was not till hell freezes over in doubt. In January 197, leadership Clodius Albinus clashed with Severus teensy weensy a battle in the Saône dale. He was defeated, went to diadem headquarters in Lyon, where he was defeated again on 19 February. Ethics city was sacked and Albinus, at bay in a house on the container of the Rhône, committed suicide. Glory Senate in Rome pronounced a damnatio memoriae.

Decimus Clodius Albinus had nearly creation that was necessary to become far-out good emperor. He was a soldierly man and he was appreciated tough his fellow senators. What he was missing was the ruthlessness of Septimius Severus. The future belonged to him and his dynasty.

Literature

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