Lucius Septimius Severus was a outstanding soldier and held increasingly important commands until, at the death of Commodus, he was governor of Upper Pannonia. He expressed his allegiance to Pertinax, but after his murder and the shameful elevation of Didius Julianus, Severus was saluted as emperor by the troops at Carnuntum. He rapidly disposed of Julianus, Niger, and later defeated Clodius Albinus. Severus spent much of his time campaigning in different parts of the Empire including Britain where there was an unrest after a great invasion of barbarians. He repaired Hadrian’s Wall and invaded Caledonia but without much success. The strain on the old emperor was too much and he died at York.

While Severus had been engaged in his war with Pescennius Niger in 194, he made a punitive raid across the Euphrates to punish Vologases IV for offering support to Niger. This successful campaign added Osrhoene and Adiabene to the Roman empire. In 196, Vologases took advantage of Severus' preoccupation with the struggle against Albinus to invade and recover his lost provinces. He was not to retain them for long, however. Severus returned to the region in 197, and quickly expelled the Parthians. He then invaded Parthia itself, and destroyed the Parthians at Ctesiphon. He made his way slowly back to Rome, arriving in A.D. 202. His son Antoninus (nicknamed Caracalla) was made Augustus in A.D. 197 (aged about 9), and shared in the triumph of A.D. 202.

PART ARAB and PART ADIAB refer to Severus' victory titles "Pathicus Arabicus" and "Parthicus Adiabenicus" taken in A.D. 195. I'm not sure if this means just some area of Parthia, or it was just to differentiate two different campaigns. The ARAB ADAIB legend may also refer to the victory over Pescennius Niger. To obscure the fact this was actually a civil war, Severus phrased the victory as being over the Parthian controlled areas of the Arabians and Adiabenians, who aided Niger's cause, and were later  punished by punitive expeditions.

See the biography of Septimius Severus at De Imperatoribus Romanis, an online encyclopedia of Roman emperors.

TR P refers to the tribune power of the emperor, and indicates the year. It may appear on the obverse or reverse. Dating can also be done from consulships (COS) and imperatorial acclamations (IMP):

Coins in the Name of Septimius Severus

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The images are used by permission of their copyright owners. See the Coins of Rome about Parthia index page for a listing of these generous individuals, dealers and institutions.

This page last updated 23 Feb 2021