Yorkshire Philosophical Society

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Rome’s African Emperor

Join archaeologist, historian and broadcaster Dr Simon Elliott FSA to explore the remarkable life of the Roman Emperor – Septimius Severus.

Born in the heat of a North African spring in Leptis Magna AD 145, Severus rose through the ranks to become one of Rome’s greatest warrior emperors. His career can be counted in superlatives. Severus was in power at the height of Rome’s might. He led the largest army to ever campaign in Britain, comprising 50,000 men, part of a Roman military establishment which peaked at 33 legions under his rule. He finally died in York in February AD 211 in the freezing cold of a British winter. This talk will assess the legacy of the emperor who established the Severan dynasty. Simon Elliott will delve into the life a man who fought in every region across the Empire, almost died in battle several times and whose attitude is best reflected in his deathbed advice to his two sons: ‘Be of one mind with your family, enrich the soldiers, and despise the rest.’

Dr Simon Elliott FSA is a best-selling and award-winning archaeologist, historian and broadcaster, with a PhD in Classics and Archaeology, an MA in Archaeology and an MA in War Studies. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and has recently completed two terms as a Trustee of the Council for British Archaeology. Dr Elliott has published 20 books to date on Classical and late antique world themes and frequently contributes to broadcast and social media, and podcasts, as a presenter and expert on the Roman world. His new biography of the great warrior emperor Septimius Severus, The African Emperor, is published in early September by Icon Books and Bolinda Audio.

7pm in the Tempest Anderson Lecture Theatre in the Yorkshire Museum on Tuesday 23 September.

Image: Simon Elliott with the Arch of Septimius Severus behind him.

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