Septimius Severus

From Coptic Orthodox Church
Revision as of 20:06, 12 October 2012 by Nshehad (talk | contribs) (Created page with "Founder of the African dynasty of Roman emperors, borne at Leptis Magna in Africa, 11 April, 146; died at York, England, 4 February, 211. Severus came from a family that had ...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

Founder of the African dynasty of Roman emperors, borne at Leptis Magna in Africa, 11 April, 146; died at York, England, 4 February, 211. Severus came from a family that had become Roman citizens. In his career as an official at Rome and in the provinces he had been favored by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In the reign of Commodus he was appointed legate of the fourth legion on the Euphrates; this gave him the opportunity to become acquainted with affairs in the East. He married Julia Domna, a member of a priestly family of Emesa, who was the mother of Caracalla and Geta. When the Emperor Pertinax was killed by the mutinous soldiers at Rome, Severus, who was then governor of Upper Pannonia, was proclaimed emperor. During the reign of Severus the fifth persecution of the Christians broke out. He forbade conversion to Judaism and to Christianity. The persecution raged especially in Syria and Africa. In 203 Saints Perpetua and Felicitas and their companions suffered martyrdom at Carthage. Lionidas, Origen’s father, Putamnia, Basil the solider were of the famous martyrs during his reign.