Elagabalus 218-222 AD The emperor known to history as Elagabalus takes his name from the sun god of Emesa, for which he was made a high priest on May 16th, 218 AD. Elagabalus was actually born about 205 AD as Varius Avitus Bassianus and later became known as “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus,” the formal name found […]

Diadumenian Son of Macrinus 217-218 AD Marcus Opelius Diadumenianus was the son of Macrinus who was the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard and played a master role in the assassination of Caracalla in 217 AD. Diadumenian was born in 208 AD and was given the rank of Caesar at the same time his father was proclaimed Emperor by […]

Macrinus 217-218 AD M. Opelius Macrinus was born to very humble parents in Caesarea in Mauretania in 164 AD. After holding various appointments in the imperial household, he became prefect of the Praetorian guards under Caracalla and was party to the latter’s murder. On April 11th, 217AD, he was saluted Augustus by his troops, and […]

GETA 209-212 AD Son of Septimus Severus Co-emperor & Brother Caracalla Publius Lucius Septimius Geta was the younger son of Emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna and the brother of Caracalla. Geta was younger than his brother by only one year. He traveled with his family during the Parthian War in 197 AD and was […]

Plautilla Wife of Caracalla Plautilla was the daughter of the powerful Praetorian Prefect Plautianus, who had been a close friend of Septimus Severus. Plautilla was married to Caracalla in 202 AD against his will. Caracalla literally hated his wife and vowed to have her killed when he became Emperor, a promise which he would most certainly keep. On […]

Caracalla 198-217 AD Son of Septimus Severus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, originally named Julius Bassianus, was born at Lugdunum, Gaul, on April 6th, 188 AD. He was the elder son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. His original name, Bassianus, came from the Syrian side of his family. Following the Civil War in the aftermath of […]

Julia Domna Wife of Septimus Severus Died 217 AD Julia Domna was born at Emesa in Syria but traveled to Rome as a young woman in 173 AD. In Rome, Julia met General Septimius Severus who was a fanatic about astrology. Upon learning that her astrological chart foretold that she would marry a great king, Septimius […]

Septimius Severus 193-211 AD Lucius Septimius Severus was born in 146 AD at Leptis Magna (coast of Libya) in Africa and as such was the first Roman Emperor of North African origin. He was of humble origin. His father was Publius Septimus Geta, and two of his father’s cousins did attain the rank of consul. […]

Clodius Albinus As Augustus 195-197 AD As Caesar under Septimius Severus 193-195 AD Decimus Clodius Albinus was born at Hadrumetum in North Africa. His family was was of senatorial rank and we are told he was brought up in luxury accumulated by his ancestors. Albinus entered the army at an early age and held a […]

Pescennius Niger 193-194 AD C. Pescennius Niger was born sometime between 135 and 140 AD of humble origin. He had a long and honorable career in the army but did not display any exceptional victories. In 189 AD, he held the consulship and, in the following year, was appointed Governor of Syria by 191 AD. […]