2.9: Septimius Severus thinks about becoming emperor
[Early April 193]  While Niger was dreaming these dreams and
relying upon uncertain and unfounded hopes, what had occurred in Syria
was reported to the Pannonians and the people in Illyricum, as well as
to the entire military force in that area - that is, to the troops
assigned to duty on the banks of the Danube and the Rhine to check
barbarian incursions
in those regions and defend the Roman empire.
 The
governor of all the Pannonians (for they were at that time under one
command) was a Libyan named Severus, a born administrator and a man of
tremendous energy. Accustomed to a rugged life, he was physically able
to endure heavy labor; mentally, he was quick to understand and quick
to act once
he understood.
 When
he learned from reports that the Roman empire was dangling in the sky
like a meteor for Niger and Julianus to seize, Severus, charging the
former with negligence and the latter with cowardice, decided to
intervene in these affairs. He had had dreams which led him to expect
something like this, and his dreams were supported by oracular
responses and all the signs that appear as prophecies of things to
come. All these, whether they are true or false, are invariably
believed when they foretell something
which later actually occurs.
 Severus himself recorded many portents in his autobiography, and had them inscribed on his public statues also.
But the last and most significant of his dreams, the one which made it
clear to him that he would get all he hoped for, must not be omitted.
 At the time Pertinax
was reported to have assumed control of the empire, Severus, after
making the sacrifices and swearing the oath of allegiance to the new
emperor, went back to his house at dusk and fell asleep. He dreamed
that he saw a large, noble stallion adorned with the imperial trappings
carrying Pertinax down the middle of the Sacred Way at Rome.
 But when the horse
arrived at the entrance of the Forum, where, in the old days of the
Republic, the popular assemblies had been held, in his dream the
stallion unseated Pertinax and threw him to the ground. While Severus
stood there motionless, the horse slipped under him, taking him up on
his back, and bore him safely along. Then, halting in the middle of the
Forum, the stallion raised Severus aloft, so that he was seen and
cheered by all. And in our time a huge bronze statue depicting this
dream still stood on that spot.[1]
 His resolve thus
strengthened, with high hopes that he was being called to the throne by
divine summons, Severus made trial of the attitude of the soldiers. As
the first step, he met in his quarters with a few commanders and
tribunes and prominent soldiers and discussed with them the Roman
empire, how it lay completely helpless because there was no man of the
nobility and no man with enough ability to take control of it.
 He spoke with contempt
of the praetorians at Rome as disloyal and false to their oath in
spilling the blood of their emperor and fellow Roman, and told them
that he had to go to Rome to avenge the murder of Pertinax, for he was
aware that all the soldiers in Illyricum remembered the governorship of
the man.
 When Marcus was
emperor, Pertinax had won with them many victories over the Germans;
after he had been appointed general and governor of the province of
Illyricum, he had displayed great courage in fighting the enemy. But at the same time he
revealed his benevolence and good will toward those he ruled by his
moderation and his sensible exercise of authority. For these reasons
they revered his memory and were enraged at those who had treated him
so
savagely.
 Seizing
this as his excuse, Severus without difficulty persuaded them to do
what he wished; he pretended that he was not personally seeking the
empire and did not desire power for himself, but rather that he wished
to avenge the
murder of so great an emperor as Pertinax.
 Although
the men of those regions have huge and powerful bodies and are skillful
and murderous in battle, they are dull of wit and slow to realize that
they are being deceived. Hence they believed Severus when he said that
he was enraged and wished to avenge the murder of Pertinax; and,
putting themselves in his hands, they made him emperor and turned the
control
of the empire over to him.
 Since
he now knew the attitude of the Pannonians, he reported these events to
the neighboring provinces and to the rulers of all the northern nations
under Roman control; he convinced them by lavish promises and the
expectation of great rewards, and easily won their
support.
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