Severus II - Flavius Valerius Severus (AD ? - 307).

Mints: Alexandria, Antioch, Aquileia, Cyzicus, Heraclea, Carthage, Londinium, Lugdunum, Nicomedia, Serdica, Siscia, Ticinum, Treveri.

Biography: When Diocletian and Maximianus abdicated, Constantius and Galerius became the senior rulers of the Empire. Galerius had the East, but appointed both assistants with the title of Caesars. Severus, known as Severus II became a Caesar during the solemn inaugurating ceremony on May 1, 305. Severus had been Galerius's close friend for many years and that accounted for his choice. Later Christian authors describe him as "ignoble of origins and habits" perhaps referring to his military career and humble provenance from the Balkan provinces. Galerius clearly intended him to succeed Constantius Chlorus as senior emperor in the West, perhaps counting on the latter's disease. But the plan was foiled by the army, for when Constantius died on July 25, 306, the troops proclaimed his son Constantine Augustus. Hearing about this, Galerius immediately (August 306) promoted Severus II to Augustus and attempted to demote Constantine by sending him Caesar's insignia. Thus did the matters stand when the revolt of Maxentius shook the rule of Severus II, based in Mediolanum. Galerius, counting on the strong army Severus II had under his command, sent him to crush Maxentius in Rome. Severus complied, but before the walls of Rome his troops deserted him, seduced by the bribes of Maxentius. He fled to Ravenna but was captured, forced to abdicate in March or April 307, and then murdered, at Tres Tabernae near Rome, on September 16, 307.

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