Julia Domna

Wife of Septimus Severus

Died 217 AD

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Julia Domna was born at Emesa in Syria, but traveled to Rome as a young woman in 173 AD. In Rome Julia met the general Septimius Severus who was a fanatic about astrology. Upon learning that her astrological chart foretold that she would marry a great king, Septimius decided that he would marry her in 187 AD. Julia became Septimius’ second wife. In 188 AD she bore him a son who would ultimately become the future Emperor Caracalla. The following year a second son was born whom they named Geta.

Julia was known to have been a woman of brilliant intellect and great beauty. She often consulted Severus on matters of importance and assisted him in his rise to the throne. Julia also had a reputation for having many love affairs and where her political loyality remained with her husband, in matters of physical relationships she was loyal only to her personal desires.

As Empress, Julia brought together the finest minds and philosophers of her time. Among her most famous guests were Galen, Philostratus and Ulpian. However, Julia found her influence over her husband began to subside as Severus looked toward his Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Plautianus. Julia, as well as her son Caracalla, resented Plautianus’s influence (200-205 AD) and Julia feuded bitterly with him at court. Unable to defeat him, Julia retired to a life of philosophy and study, returning to her influential position in 205, when Plautianus fell from his office.

Julia’s dominant character, a trait among most women in her family, did little to solve the bitter childhood disputed between her two sons. Upon the death of her husband, both Caracalla and Geta were made joint Emperors. This proved to be a situation that Caracalla did not wish to tolerate. Julia tried to solve the disputes between her two sons without success. The palace was even divided in two in an effort to keep her sons apart from each other. But in 217 AD, Julia stoodby and watched Caracalla murder his brother in her personal apartment and Geta died in her arms.

Following the murder of Geta, Julia found her influence to be seriously lacking when it came to dealing with her insane and vengeful son Caracalla. Nonetheless, Julia continued to take part in government, advising her son whenever possible. In 217 AD, she was at Antioch in Syria when word came that Caracalla had been assassinated and that Macrinus was now emperor. Julia either died naturally or killed herself by a voluntary abstinence from food.

Julia Domna’s sister, Julia Maesa, eventually instigated a revolt in Emesa against the usurper Macrinus in favor of her grandson Elagabalus in 218 AD.

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Monetary System

Silver Denarius issued by her husband

The monetary reform carried out by Caracalla with the introduction of a double denarius and a double aureus is also evident in the coinage of Julia Domna, but is naturally far less common.

Mints: Rome

Obverse Legends:

Struck under Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD

IVLIA DOMNA AVG
IVLIA AVGVSTA

Struck under Caracalla, 211-217 AD

IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG

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DENOMINATIONS

Struck under Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD

AU Aureus (6.54 grms)
AU Quninarius (3.00 grms)
AR Denarius (3.54 grms)
AR Quinarius (1.43 grms)
AE Sesterius
AE Dupondius
AE As

Struck under Caracalla, 211-217 AD

AU DOUBLE Aureus
AU Aureus (6.54 grms)
AR Antoninianus
AR Denarius (3.54 grms)
AE Sesterius
AE Dupondius
AE As

Posthumous Coinage

AR Denarius (3.54 grms)
AE Sesterius

Septimius Severus

193-211 AD

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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.

When Severus was 18, he moved to Rome where he was made a senator by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Thereafter, Severus proved himself to be an outstanding soldier of considerable ability. He held a series of increasingly important commands until, at the death of Commodus, he was Governor of Upper Pannonia.

Little is known about Severus’ first wife Pacca Marciana who was from Lepcis. His second wife was Julia Domna whom he married in 186 or 187 AD. Julia was from the old ruling dynasty of Emesa and her father was high priest to the sun god Elagabal in Syria. Severus and Julia had two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Julia would prove to be a formidable wife intent upon power and intrigue. She was notorious for her love affairs
Following the death of Commodus, Severus initially professed his allegiance to Pertinax. However, following the murder of Pertinax and the shameful elevation of Didius Julianus by means of public auction, the mood within the empire was very much dissatisfied. Severus was saluted as Emperor by the troops at Carnuntum and began his march on Rome in April 193 AD. He rapidly disposed of Julianus and Niger and later attacked and defeated his third rival, Clodius Albinus in 197 AD, with whom he had originally agreed to share power in return for his support.

One of his first acts as Emperor was to avenge the death of his friend Pertinax. The Praetorian guard were led outside the city gates dressed for a ceremony thereby leaving the weapons behind. Severus ordered his own troops to surround the Praetorians. All those who took part in the murder of Pertinax were executed. The survivors were dismissed and warned not to come within 100 miles of Rome or face execution.

After defeating all his rivals, Severus then rooted out all the supporters within Rome of both Albinus and Niger. In what became known as the Purge of 197 AD, Severus executed 29 Senators. His reputation was one of cruelty and ruthlessness. Severus was never popular with the Senate and as such relied primarily upon the army to maintain his power.

Septimus Severus was determined to establish his own dynasty. He issued quite a prolific series of coins in silver and gold showing himself with various members of his family. Dio tells us that Severus was addicted to astrology. In fact, he married Julia Domna based upon her astrology chart because it predicted that she would marry a great king.
Severus spent much of his reign campaigning in different parts of the Empire. Severus attacked Parthia, killed all the men and enslaved 100,000 women and children. He also emptied the treasury in 197 AD. This victory is commemorated by the Arch of Severus still standing in the Forum today. It was erected by the Senate in 203 AD. Later, Severus visited Egypt where he went to view the embalmed body of Alexander the Great.

In 202 AD, Severus returned to Rome. He set about planning his dynasty. Caracalla, his eldest son by Julia Domna, had been raised to the rank of Augustus in 198 AD. Severus now set about finding Caracalla a wife. Publia Fulvia Plautilla was the daughter of one of his friends — Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, commander of the Praetorian Guard.

Caracalla hated Plautilla and vowed to have her killed once he became Emperor. There are two versions to the story at this juncture. One tells us that Caracalla sought to get rid of his wife and father-in-law by claiming that Plautianus was planning to kill Severus and his family. The other version tells us that Plautianus did indeed try to have Severus and his family murdered. Whatever the case, the outcome was the same. Plautianus was executed and his daughter sent into exile. Upon Severus’s death, Caracalla’s hatred for Plautilla had not subsided. One of his first acts was to have Plautilla murdered.

Rivalry had already begun between Caracalla and his brother Geta. In 208 AD, Severus took his two sons and traveled to Britain where there was much unrest following a great invasion by the barbarians of the North in 197 AD. Severus repaired Hadrian’s Wall, which had been partly destroyed, and invaded Caledonia, but without much success. The strains of this campaign, however, proved too much for the old Emperor and he died at York on February 4th, 211 AD.

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Monetary System

Mints:

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DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (7.20 grms)
AU Quinarius
AR Cistophorus
AR Denarius (3.09 grms)
AR Quinarius
Æ Sesterius (23.49 grms)
Æ Dupondius
Æ As (8.8 grms)

Postumous Coinage

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
Æ Sesterius

Clodius Albinus

As Augustus 195-197 AD
As Caesar under Septimius Severus
193-195 AD

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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 succession of military posts before eventually becoming consul in 187 AD. This post was followed by his appointment as Governor of Lower Germany in 189 AD followed by Governor of Britain in 191 AD.

Clodius was well positioned in Britain by the death of Pertinax. His military strength included a garrison of three legions with a large body of auxiliary troops. Severus was a cunning individual with little integrity when it came to ambition. In order to secure his path to rule Rome, Severus managed to convince Clodius that he should support him and in return for his loyalty, Clodius would be given the rank of Caesar. The majority of the coinage issued by Clodius at this time displays his accepted rank of Caesar.

Severus sought to move against Rome and his mere march prompted the Senate to abandon Julianus prompting his execution. This allowed Severus to turn his attention to Niger in the East. Once Niger was defeated, Severus’ determination to be absolute master of the Empire was revealed. In 195 AD, Severus had Albinus declared a public enemy by the Senate.

Clodius Albinus, after being played as the fool, withdrew to his former territory where he was saluted as Augustus by his troops. Clodius began to make preparation for the forthcoming struggle with Severus. After some initial success, Clodius was eventually defeated in a great and final battle fought on February 19th, 197 AD near Lugdunum (Lyons). Clodius later committed suicide. His body, along with those of his wife and children, who were also put to death, were thrown into the Rhine river.

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Monetary System

As Caesar
Mints: Rome

Obverse Legends:

D . CLOD . SEPT . ALBIN . CAES.
D . CLODIVS ALBINVS CAES.
D . CL. SEPT . ALBIN . CAES.
D . CLOD . SEPT . ALBIN . CAES.

As Augustus
Mints: Lugdunum (Lyons).

Obverse Legends:

IMP.CAES.D.CLO.ALBIN.AVG.
IMP.CAES.D.CLO.SEP. ALB.AVG.

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DENOMINATIONS

As Caesar

AU Aureus (7.29 grams)
AU Quinarius
AR Denarius (3.09 grams)
AE Sesterius (22.2 grams)
AE As (10.29 grams)

As Augustus

AU Aureus (7.29 grams)
AR Denarius (2.99 grams)
AE As (10.29 grams)

 

Pescennius Niger

193-194 AD

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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. Following the murder of Pertinax, Niger was proclaimed Emperor by his troops during April 193 AD while in Syria.

Pescennius Niger seems to have had a reputation for integrity yet he was also a man of discipline. Niger was indeed perhaps a bit cautious after being declared Emperor by his troops. His forces were at first overwhelming yet he delayed any attempt to march on Rome seeking instead to perhaps further strengthen his troops. Had Niger begun to march upon Rome from the outset, other legions throughout the East would have most likely joined his cause against the disgraceful appointment of Didius Julianus in Rome. It was that hesitation on the part of Niger that provided the window of opportunity for Septimus Severus to begin his march toward Rome. With Severus’ legions nearing Rome, the Senate declared Julianus a public enemy and ordered his execution no doubt to save Rome from the legions that were marching nearer by the day. For that reason, Severus had the upper hand over Niger when it came to the Senate. Severus, after having secured Rome, turned his attention to his rival in the East, and thrice defeated the forces of Niger. Pescennius Niger then concentrated the remnants of his army at Issus in an effort to make a last stand. Nonetheless, Niger was again defeated for the fourth time and fled towards the Euphrates in vain. He was eventually overtaken and executed by Severus.

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Monetary System

Mint: Antioch.

Obverse Legend:

IMP CAES C PESC NIGERIVS IVS AVG

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DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.80 grams)
AR Denarius (3.16 grams)

 

Pertinax Caesar – Son

Didia Clara

193 AD
Daughter of Didius Julianus

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Didia Clara was the daughter of Didius Julianus and Manlia Scantilia. Little is known of her personal life. Her portrait is best known from her coinage. All we know is that upon her father’s execution, the body was handed over to Didia and her mother for burial at the Via Labica near the fifth mile stone in the tomb of his great-grandfather.

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Monetary System

Perhaps due to the fact that Didius Julianus bid 25,000 sesterii per man for the office of emperor, coinage of himself and his family have survived in gold, silver and bronze despite his short reign of only 66 days. The fact that Commodus drained the treasury during his reign must have necessitated the mintage of new currency in order to pay the Praetorian Guard. No doubt, the portraits of his wife and daughter were also used in an effort to promote support for the new royal family as a whole.

Mints: Rome

Obverse Legend:

DIDIA CLARA AVG

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DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.74 grms)
AR Denarius (2.68 grms)
AE Sesterius (17.1 grms)
AE Dupondius or As (12.87 grms)

Flavia Titiana

Wife of Pertinax
193 AD

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Flavia Titiana was the wife of Pertinax who came to the throne in 193 AD. She was the daughter of Flavius Sulpicianus and bore at least one son,Helvius Pertinax Junior. Unfortunately, after a reign of only 86 days, her husband was murdered by members of the Praetorian Guard. Her fate, following her husband’s murder, is unknown.

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Monetary System

Mints: Alexandria

DENOMINATIONS

Billion Tetradrachm (Alexandria, Egypt)

 

P. Helvius Pertinax

193 AD

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P. Helvius Pertinax was born at Alba Pompeja in 126 AD, the son of a timber-merchant. He was married to Titiana who bore him a son, Helvius Pertinax, Junior. Pertinax had a successful military career and achieved senatorial rank until, at the death of Commodus, he was Prefect of the City of Rome.

Pertinax reluctantly accepted the throne when it was offered him by the murderers of Commodus. The state of affairs in Rome were deplorable and Pertinax instituted economic reforms, which immediately made him unpopular particularly with the Praetorian Guard. Like any public employee who faces a cut in pay, the mood was not festive. On March 28th, after a reign of only 86 days, a band of mutinous Praetorian Guards invaded the palace and murdered Pertinax. The fate of his wife is unknown, but his son managed to survive.

When Septimius Severus came to the throne, he ordered his troops to murder all the Praetorians that had anything to do with the murder of Pertinax. Those who were not directly involved, were dismissed and told to stay more than 200 miles away from Rome or suffer the same fate. Septimius also issued a series of posthumous coinage in honor of Pertinax.

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Monetary System

Mints: Rome

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DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.54 grms)
AR Denarius (3.54 grms)
AE Sesterius
AE Dupondius
AE As

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POSTUMOUS COINAGE

Issued by Septimus Severus

AU Aureus (6.54 grms)
AR Denarius (3.54 grms)
AE Sesterius
AE Dupondius
AE As

Manlia Scantilla

193 AD
Wife of Didius Julianus

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Little is known of Manlia Scantilla other than she was the wife of Didius Julianus. Her husband’s ambitions placed her in the middle of Rome’s most scandalous succession in history – the purchase at public auction of the office of Emperor. This open display of corruption led to her family’s unpopularity among the people, the Senate and provinces throughout the Roman Empire.

As the legions of Septimus Severus rose in support of their leader as Emperor, the march toward Rome prompted the Senate to declare her husband a criminal and ordered his execution. Manlia and her daughter, Didia Clara, were not harmed. The beheaded body of Didius was handed over to them for burial.

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Monetary System

Perhaps due to the fact that Didius Julianus bid 25,000 sesterii per man for the office of emperor, coinage of himself and his family have survived in gold, silver and bronze despite his short reign of only 66 days. The fact that Commodus drained the treasury during his reign must have necessitated the mintage of new currency in order to pay the Praetorian Guard. No doubt, the portraits of his wife and daughter were also used in an effort to promote support for the new royal family as a whole.

Mints: Rome

Obverse legends:

MANL SCANTILLA AVG.
MANLIA SCANTILLA AVG.

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DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.74 grams)
AR Denarius (2.68 grams)
AE Sesterius (17.1 grams)
AE Dupondius or As (12.87 grams)

 

Marcus Didius Julianus

193 AD

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Marcus Didius Julianus was the son of Petronius Didius Severus of Milan while his mother was from Roman North Africa. Didius was raised in the household of Domitia Lucilla, the mother ofMarcus Aurelius, which served him well in political circles.

In 172 AD, Didius was appointed commander of the XXII Legion in Germany. His career prospered and in 175 AD he shared a consulship with Pertinax. He also was Governor of four Roman provinces, which included regions of Africa up to Lower Germany. Didius eventually became a distinguished Senator of Rome by the time Pertinax came to power.

Following the murder of Pertinax by the Praetorian guards, the full corruption of Rome burst forth. After parading around with the head of Pertinax on a pole, the Guards withdrew to the safety of their camp. No clear heir was available so the Guards stationed heralds on the wall to announce openly that the office of Emperor was up for sale to the highest bidder.

Thus began perhaps the most scandalous affair in Roman history. The corruption had reached such levels that it was clear that the decline and fall of the Roman Empire began at this junction in time.

There were two rival bidders who presented themselves – Titus Flavius Sulpicianus (father-in-law of Pertinax) and Marcus Didius Julianus. Didius’ bid was 25,000 sestertii per man, which was the high bid and he was duly declared Emperor.

Didius Julianus quickly found himself in serious trouble. The treasury had been depleted much more so than he had expected under Commodus. Didius began to reduce the weight of the coinage trying to stretch the reserves as far as possible. At the same time, he attempted to politically demonstrate stability by also issuing coins baring the portraits of his wife Manlia Scantillaand daughter Pescennius Niger, the Ggovernor of Syria, to come to their assistance. Two other provincial Governors, Clodius Albinus in Britain and Septimius Severus in Upper Pannonia, were also determined to answer the appeal from Rome.

Severus quickly advanced on Rome and Julianus, after several pointless attempts at negotiation with his rival, Julianus found himself deserted by the Praetorians and deposed by the Senate. He sought refuge in his deserted palace, but was beheaded on June 2nd after a reign of only 66 days.

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Monetary System

The weight standard under Didius Julianus was reduced most notably among the bronze denominations. The sesterius fell from an average weight of 25 grms under Commodus to 17-18 gms. The dupondius fell from 16-18 grms down to 11-13 grms. The gold suffered only a slight reduction in weight dropping from 7.5 to 6.5 grms on average while the denarius fell from 3.4 to 2.68 grms on average.

Mint: Rome.

Obverse Legends:

IMP CAES M DID JVLIAN AVG
IMP CAES M DID SEVER IVLIAN AVG

DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.74 grams)
AR Denarius (2.68 grams)
AE Sesterius (17.1 grams)
AE Dupondius (12.87 grams)