We dive into the life and legacy of the North African-born ruler who rose through the ranks to seize the imperial throne. We discover how Severus transformed the Roman military, led daring campaigns across continents, and left a mark that shaped the empire for generations. Joining us is Simon Elliott, author of 'The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus'. We weigh his achievements against those of other legendary emperors and ask: Does Severus deserve the title of Rome’s ultimate warrior emperor? We dive into the life and legacy of the North African-born ruler who rose through the ranks to seize the imperial throne. We discover how Severus transformed the Roman military, led daring campaigns across continents, and left a mark that shaped the empire for generations. Joining us is Simon Elliott, author of 'The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus'. We weigh his achievements against those of other legendary emperors and ask: Does Severus deserve the title of Rome’s ultimate warrior emperor? 0:00 - Introduction 2:12 - Severus vs. Trajan: Who Was the Greatest Warrior Emperor? 3:48 - The North African Emperor: Septimius Severus's Ethnicity and Heritage 6:02 - From Lawyer to General: Severus's Unexpected Rise in Roman Politics 8:47 - The Mentor and the Assassination: Pertinax and the Fall of Commodus 13:33 - The Year of the Five Emperors: Severus Seizes Control of Rome 16:28 - Securing the Throne: Defeating Rivals Albinus and Niger 20:49 - Severus's Brutal Rule and Monumental Legacy in Rome and London 23:45 - The Parthian Campaign: Conquering Rome's Ancient Nemesis 29:38 - The Severan Surge: Invading and Conquering Northern Britain 38:13 - Death in York: The End of Septimius Severus's Life and Dynasty Produced by Mariana Des Forges, James Hickmann and McKenna Fernandez, edited by Matthew Wilson & the channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. You can find more Dan Snow's History Hit on the audio podcast here: https://podfollow.com/dan-snows-history-hit/view Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #DanSnowsHistoryHit #HistoryPodcast #AncientRome #RomanEmpire