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There is a certain sense of irony that might occur to the modern viewer of this aureus of Septimius Severus, which proudly portrays his progeny in an overt display of familial unity and stability, belying the ultimately fatal rivalry that was to arise between the two Severan sons. As far as the contemporary viewer was concerned, however, this imagery was consistent with the imperial propaganda circulating at the time, the emphasis of which was on the dynastic permanency secured by Septimius Severus' defeat in AD 197 of the many challengers vying for the position of emperor after the death of the emperor Pertinax.
The multiple-portrait issues struck in particular around AD 200-201 presented a strong message of stability from an ostensibly virtuous and cohesive imperial family, thus creating the potential for a stable succession by being seen to be preparing the next generation for the duty of ruling the empire; the present aureus is a compelling illustration of these sentiments. The elder son, Caracalla, although only aged only 13 at the time of its striking, is portrayed on this coin as an emperor-in-waiting, wearing the laurel wreath of Roman authority; indeed this was an eminently appropriate depiction, given he had already been appointed Augustus by his father in AD 198 at the age of 10. Geta, the younger son by one year, had been raised to the rank of Caesar at the same time and is consequently shown in a junior capacity on this coin, subservient to his older brother's superior position. Geta was not promoted to Augustus by his father until AD 209, with the intended outcome being that he would rule together with Caracalla as Septimius Severus' successors, securing the longevity of the Severan dynastic line.
It seems that for the duration of their father's rule the two brothers were able to maintain at least an artifice of unity, however, after Septimius' death in AD 211 relations between the two began to deteriorate swiftly and their father's ambitions of a smooth transition of power without bloodshed did not come to fruition. The Historia Augusta tells of how Geta was always hated by his brother and intimates that he enjoyed a closer relationship with their mother, Julia Domna [Geta. 5.1], a fact perhaps stressed by the writer for dramatic effect to make his later murder all the more distressing, as it is said that Geta died in his mother's arms.
Cassius Dio presents a particularly emotive description of the murder scene, writing that after he had been struck down by the Praetorian Guard on the orders of Caracalla, he ran to his mother, clung to her bosom, crying and that she saw her son perishing in the most impious fashion in her arms and received him at his death into the very womb, as it were, whence he had been born [Roman History, 78.5]. Thus Septimius Severus efforts to establish a peaceful, long-lasting dynasty were categorically undermined. So precarious did the rule of the empire become in the 90 years after his death, the period has been characterised by later scholars as The Crisis of the Third Century. AETERNIT IMPERI - Aeternitas Imperii : The eternity of the Roman Empire.
The multiple-portrait issues struck in particular around AD 200-201 presented a strong message of stability from an ostensibly virtuous and cohesive imperial family, thus creating the potential for a stable succession by being seen to be preparing the next generation for the duty of ruling the empire; the present aureus is a compelling illustration of these sentiments. The elder son, Caracalla, although only aged only 13 at the time of its striking, is portrayed on this coin as an emperor-in-waiting, wearing the laurel wreath of Roman authority; indeed this was an eminently appropriate depiction, given he had already been appointed Augustus by his father in AD 198 at the age of 10. Geta, the younger son by one year, had been raised to the rank of Caesar at the same time and is consequently shown in a junior capacity on this coin, subservient to his older brother's superior position. Geta was not promoted to Augustus by his father until AD 209, with the intended outcome being that he would rule together with Caracalla as Septimius Severus' successors, securing the longevity of the Severan dynastic line.
It seems that for the duration of their father's rule the two brothers were able to maintain at least an artifice of unity, however, after Septimius' death in AD 211 relations between the two began to deteriorate swiftly and their father's ambitions of a smooth transition of power without bloodshed did not come to fruition. The Historia Augusta tells of how Geta was always hated by his brother and intimates that he enjoyed a closer relationship with their mother, Julia Domna [Geta. 5.1], a fact perhaps stressed by the writer for dramatic effect to make his later murder all the more distressing, as it is said that Geta died in his mother's arms.
Cassius Dio presents a particularly emotive description of the murder scene, writing that after he had been struck down by the Praetorian Guard on the orders of Caracalla, he ran to his mother, clung to her bosom, crying and that she saw her son perishing in the most impious fashion in her arms and received him at his death into the very womb, as it were, whence he had been born [Roman History, 78.5]. Thus Septimius Severus efforts to establish a peaceful, long-lasting dynasty were categorically undermined. So precarious did the rule of the empire become in the 90 years after his death, the period has been characterised by later scholars as The Crisis of the Third Century. AETERNIT IMPERI - Aeternitas Imperii : The eternity of the Roman Empire.