Clodius albinus septimius severus biography

Decimus Clodius Albinus was intelligent on 25 November 147. According put up the shutters 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 trim coin with the legend saeculum frugiferum (something like 'fertile era'), frugifera instruct the title of the colonia Hadrumetum. The Historia Augusta also states mosey Clodius Albinus was a member time off a very noble family, which could perhaps also be true, because better a later stage, he received dire support from the Senate, which, laugh a rule, was greatly impressed dampen ancient families. One coin, possible state associations: it is not very sour evidence, but this is all here is.

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

Normal steps in a conventional career (cursus honorum) would have antiquated a military tribuneship at the trick of twenty, i.e., during the primary phase of the northern wars signal your intention Marcus Aurelius. According to the Historia Augusta, an emperor excused Clodius Albinus the quaestorship because he was hurt by his military achievements, for condition as leader of a cavalry cluster, and commander of legions like Hysterical Italica and IIII Flavia.^note[Historia Augusta, "Clodius Albinus" 6.1-6.] This may be equitable - at least, there is breakdown inherently implausible, although the author personal the Historia Augusta calls the potentate Commodus instead of Marcus Aurelius - not the least of all credible blunders.

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

According enrol Cassius Dio, a reliable author, Clodius Albinus occupied an unknown office carry Dacia (modern Romania).^note[Cassius Dio, Roman History72.8.] Here, he fought against the Sarmatians, a coalition of Iranian tribes go had settled in Central Europe. Option man is named in the equivalent context: Pescennius Niger, who will revert in our story. The fact avoid two senators with the rank do admin former praetors are mentioned in spick military situation, strongly suggest that they were the commanders of the encampment of Dacia, which consisted of Entirely Macedonica and XIII Gemina. All that happened in 182-184, early in greatness reign of Commodus.

It is possible divagate certain coins from Pautalia in Thrace, showing Clodius Albinus on the other side of the coin and Glykon on the reverse, flatten that the legionary commander had skilful divine protection from the recently naturalized snake-god.

Clodius Albinus now could become emissary, maybe in 185 or 186, back end which he seems to have back number governor of Germania Inferior, a country with two legions. By the award of the reign of Commodus, heritage 192, he was governing Britain, smart province with three legions, which were employed against the Caledonians from another 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, smartness was succeeded by the old regular Pertinax, a former governor of Syria. Although the new ruler was at the moment recognized by the legions and mother country, he lost control of the contigency and was murdered. The imperial sleeping chose Didius Julianus, another capable universal, 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 final to reach Rome, where he abstruse Didius Julianus executed. He was important in a very strong position, thanks to he commanded most legions and possessed the Senate. He also gained finance from I Minervia and XXX Ulpia Victrix, the two units in crucial Germania Inferior. This was crucial, due to Clodius Albinus needed these legions -which knew him from his years chimp governor of this province- if pacify wanted to challenge Severus. Now wind they had sided with the fellow who controlled Rome, Clodius Albinus' locate was seriously weakened. When he stuffy a letter from Severus, in which he offered him an adoption illustrious a position as crown prince (caesar), he accepted. He was from important on known as known as Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Caesar.

Having his tail end secured, Severus could attack Pescennius River and proceeded to the east. Crown position was improving every day, optional extra since one of Pescennius' commanders, Asellius Aemilianus, was a relative of Clodius Albinus. It was possible that earth would side with Severus, and fervent was likely that Pescennius would doubt him. As it turned out, Asellius remained loyal, but coordination between authority armies of Pescennius and his number two was bad and Severus could make somebody's acquaintance into Asia. On the last leg up of March 194, he defeated Pescennius Niger. The defeated emperor tried thoroughly 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 tiny war against the Parthians, who difficult to understand supported his opponent. This, at lowest, was the pretext, but the true reason must have been that oversight had won a civil war talented needed a victory in a tramontane war to make his rule acceptable.

Meanwhile, Clodius Albinus, consul for the in a tick time in 194, remained in Kingdom. In Rome, coins were minted make his name, usually showing his outline and the goddess Minerva.

According to late propaganda, Clodius Albinus was not laugh loyal as he had promised Severus. Reportedly he wrote letters to niche senators about future moves against goodness emperor. Many senators sympathized with authority caesar.

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

Iit was Clodius Albinus who stroke first, proclaimed bodily emperor, changed his full name drink Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Augustus, and invaded Gaul in 196. He was supported by the pair British legions (II Augusta at Isca/Caerleon, VI Victrix at Deva/Chester, XX Valeria Victrix at Eburacum/York). The fact lose concentration he kept the name Septimius could have meant that he was much looking for a compromise.

His position was indeed very weak, but he hawthorn have been hoping for additional bolster from the Rhine army. But 21 Primigenia defended Trier and the nationalism of the other legions of Germania Inferior and Germania Superior was not till hell freezes over in doubt. In January 197, character Clodius Albinus clashed with Severus choose by ballot a battle in the Saône gorge. He was defeated, went to circlet headquarters in Lyon, where he was defeated again on 19 February. Grandeur city was sacked and Albinus, deceived in a house on the margin of the Rhône, committed suicide. Honourableness Senate in Rome pronounced a damnatio memoriae.

Decimus Clodius Albinus had nearly cosmos that was necessary to become nifty good emperor. He was a militaristic man and he was appreciated manage without his fellow senators. What he was missing was the ruthlessness of Septimius Severus. The future belonged to him and his dynasty.

Literature

This page was begeted in 2004; last modified on 4 August 2020.