Synopsis:  King Artabanus of Parthia gathers his forces to seek revenge on Rome.  Usurpation and war gain the Sasanids control over the southern territory of Fars.

“Macrinus, seeing that Artabanus was exceedingly angry at the way he had been treated and had invaded Mesopotamia with a large force, at first of his own accord sent him captives and used friendly language, urging him to accept peace and laying the blame for the past on (Caracalla).  But the other would not entertain his proposition, and furthermore bade him build up the forts and demolished cities, abandon Mesopotamia entirely and offer satisfaction in general, but particularly for the damage to the royal tombs.  For, trusting in the large force that he had gathered, and despising Macrinus as an unworthy emperor, he gave reign to his wrath and expected that even without Roman consent he could accomplish whatever he wished.” – Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 78

Map of the Parthian Empire

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PARTHIA_FINAL.jpg

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Synopsis:  Caracalla cuts a murderous path through Rome, and provokes a dangerous war with Parthia.  After his murder, Julia Domna is forced to contend with a would-be usurper.

“Julia Domna deserved all that the stars could promise her.  She possessed, even in advanced age, the attractions of beauty, and united to a lively imagination a firmness of mind, and strength of judgement, seldom bestowed on her sex.  Her amiable qualities never made any deep impression on the dark and jealous temper of her husband; but in her son’s reign, she administered the principal affairs of the empire, with a prudence that supported his authority, and with a moderation that sometimes corrected his wild extravagancies.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1, Chapter 6

The Bloodline Family Tree – Part I

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B33_Bloodline01.pdf

The Bloodline Family Tree – Part II

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B33_Bloodline02.pdf

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Synopsis:  Severus’ close friendship with Plautianus estranges him from his family.  In his final years, a rebellion in Britannia provides one last opportunity to shape his legacy.

“The contemporaries of Severus, in this enjoyment of the peace and glory of his reign, forgave the cruelties by which it had been introduced.  Posterity, who experienced the fatal effects of his maxims and example, justly considered him as the principal author of the decline of the Roman Empire.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1, Chapter 5

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Synopsis:  Severus confronts Albinus at Lugdunum, then launches a war against the Parthians.  At the pinnacle of his power, the oracle of Zeus Belos reveals his family’s fate.

“The youth of Severus had been trained in the implicit obedience of the camps, and the riper years spent in the despotism of military command.  His haughty and inflexible spirit could not discover, or would not acknowledge, the advantage of preserving an intermediate power, however imaginary, between the Emperor and the army.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1, Chapter 5

“Here is one man who overthrew three Emperors after they were already ruling, and got the upper hand of the Praetorians by a trick…He prevailed over them all by his courage.  It is not possible to name another like Severus.” – Herodian, History of the Roman Empire from the Death of Marcus Aurelius to the Accession of Gordian III, Book 3, Chapter 7

Map of the Near East c. 198AD (provinces):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Near_East_198AD_1.jpg

Map of the Near East c. 198AD (cities):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Near_East_198AD_2.jpg

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Synopsis:  Severus defeats Niger and wages a limited Eastern campaign.  While Julia Domna is hailed as Mother of the Camps, Caracalla’s elevation to Caesar prompts a second civil war.

“There used to be an oracle about Hannibal’s death.

‘The soil of Libyssa would cover Hannibal’s body.’

The later emperor of the Romans, Severus,

Who was a descendant of the Libyans, he put upon this man’s

Tomb a white piece of marble to honor the commander Hannibal.”  

– John Tzetzes, Chiliades (or Book of Histories), Book 1, 801 – 805

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Synopsis:  After Pertinax and his successor are killed in the same year, Severus’s claim to the Empire is contested by two rivals. 

“Pertinax was one of those men to whom no exception can be taken, but he ruled only for an exceedingly brief space of time and was then put out of the way by the soldiers.” – Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 73

“The Pannonian army was at that time commanded by Septimius Severus, a native of Africa, who, in the gradual ascent of private honors, had concealed his daring ambition.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1, Chapter 5

Bloodline Family Tree (c. 193AD):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B29_Bloodline.pdf

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Synopsis: Julia Domna marries Septimius Severus and gives birth to Caracalla and Geta. Left behind in Rome with her young children, Julia watches as Commodus re-founds the Empire in his own image.

“The effect of Commodus upon the Romans was worse than that of all pestilences and all villainies.” – Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 72

Detailed Map of the Roman Empire (brilliantmaps.com):

http://brilliantmaps.com/roman-empire-211/

Julia Domna Family Tree:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B27_Bloodline.pdf

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Synopsis:  Julia Domna was daughter of the Emesene High Priest, destined to marry a king.  Then she met Septimius Severus.

“Our history now descends from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust.” – Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 71

“The primitive Christians perpetually trod on mystic ground, and their minds were exercised by the habits of believing the most extraordinary events.” – Edward Gibbon, The Christians and the Fall of Rome

Bloodline Family Tree (c. 182AD):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B27_Bloodline.png

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Synopsis:  The revolt of Avidius Cassius.

“There is only one thing I fear, fellow-soldiers…and that is that (Avidius Cassius) may either kill himself because ashamed to come into our presence, or someone else upon learning that I shall come and am setting out against him may do it. Then should I be deprived of a great prize both of war and of victory, and of a magnitude such as no human being ever yet obtained.  What is this?  Why, to forgive a man that has done you an injury, to remain a friend to one who has transgressed friendship, to continue faithful to one who has broken faith.” – Marcus Aurelius, quoted by Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 71

Avidius Cassius Family Tree:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B25_Avidius_Cassius.pdf

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Synopsis:  The overthrow of King Gaius Julius Sohaemus of Armenia leads to war between Parthia and Rome.

“For Vologases had begun war by assailing on all sides the Roman camp under Severianus, situated in Elegeia, a place in Armenia; and he had shot down and destroyed the whole force, leaders and all.  He was now proceeding with numbers that inspired terror against the cities of Syria.” – Cassius Dio, Rome, Book 71 

Avidius Cassius Family Tree:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/B25_Avidius_Cassius.pdf

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