Severans
Q321219Severan dynasty: imperial dynasty of Rome, ruling from 193 until 235, with a brief interruption from 217-218.
The Severan emperors were
| Septimius Severus | 193-211 |
| Caracalla | 211-217 |
| Geta | 211 |
| Heliogabalus | 218-222 |
| Severus Alexander | 222-235 |
The dynasty was founded after a series of civil wars (193-194, 197) in which Septimius Severus defeated his rivals. In other wars, he expanded the Empire, which reached its greatest extent after he had added Mesopotamia, parts of Libya, and southern Scotland. His sons succeeded him, but Geta was murdered by Caracalla. In 212, the latter offered Roman citizendship to all male, free-born citizens (Constitutio Antoniniana).
After his death and the brief reign of Macrinus, the dynasty was restored. Young Heliogabalus is presented in our sources as a religious fanatic, while his relative Severus Alexander is presented as a kind of saint.
During their reigns, the Roman Empire continued to flourish, but the first signs of an economic crisis started to show themselves.