Ulpia Severina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ulpia Severina
Augusta
Antoninianus of Severina
Roman empress
Tenure	c. 270 – September/October 275
Coronation	c. 29 August 274
Born	3rd century Dacia?
Died	After 275
Spouse	Aurelian
Issue	A daughter
Father	Ulpius Crinitus (?), possibly legendary

Ulpia Severina, also known as Severina, was a Roman empress. She was the wife of the Roman emperor Aurelian from about 270 to 275 AD. We don't know much about Severina because ancient writers didn't mention her. Most of what we know comes from old coins and stone carvings.

Her family name, Ulpia, suggests she might have been related to Emperor Trajan or a ruler named Laelianus. She might have come from a Roman area called Dacia. We are not sure when she married Aurelian, but it might have been before he became emperor. She was likely given the special title of Augusta in the autumn of 274.

Aurelian was killed in 275. His next ruler, Tacitus, became emperor a few weeks later. Some historians think Severina might have briefly ruled the empire during this time. This idea comes from some unusual coins made in her name. However, since no ancient writings talk about her ruling, it's just a guess.

Who Was Ulpia Severina?

Very little is known about Ulpia Severina's life. No ancient books or stories talk about her. The only mentions are a few times when writers refer to "Aurelian's wife." We don't know when she was born.

Her Early Life and Family

Historians guess that Severina might have come from Roman Dacia or other areas near the Danube River. This is because the family name Ulpia was common there. It became popular after Emperor Trajan conquered those lands.

Some people thought Severina was the daughter of a man named Ulpius Crinitus. He was a famous military leader in some old stories. However, many historians now believe Ulpius Crinitus might not have been a real person. He might have been made up in an old book called the Historia Augusta. Severina might also have been related to a ruler named Laelianus.

Empress and Her Titles

We don't know when Severina married Aurelian. It's possible they were married before he became emperor. We also don't know much about her role as empress or how much power she had. The most reliable information comes from coins and inscriptions. These confirm she was Aurelian's wife and held the title of Augusta.

A few coins call her Pia instead of Augusta. These coins were probably made before she received the Augusta title. Her full title on coins was "lady Ulpia Severina Augusta, mother of the camp, the senate and the fatherland." Some inscriptions also called her "most pious Augusta." Severina also seems to have been honored like a goddess after her death. Some coins call her diva, which means "divine."

Most coins calling Severina Augusta were made after 274. She might have received this title around August 29, 274. This was when Aurelian celebrated his big victory. He had defeated the Palmyrene and Gallic empires.

After late 274, coins for Severina were made alongside those for Aurelian. Some coins even showed both their faces. On coins, Severina looked like other empresses of her time. She had braided hair and a serious look. Her coins often showed the goddess Concordia, who represented harmony. Some also showed Venus or Juno, who were common goddesses for empresses. Severina lived longer than Aurelian, who died in 275. We don't know when she died. Aurelian and Severina had a daughter, but her name is unknown.

What Happened After Aurelian's Death?

Aurelian was killed in September or October 275. His own officers murdered him. This happened because his secretary, who was afraid of being punished, tricked them into thinking Aurelian wanted to kill them. Aurelian's next ruler, Tacitus, became emperor in November or December.

A Time of Uncertainty

For a long time, many historians thought there was a very long gap between Aurelian's death and Tacitus becoming emperor. Some old writings said this gap lasted six months. They claimed the army and the Roman Senate kept asking each other to choose a new emperor.

Today, most experts don't believe this long gap happened. Records from Egypt show the time between Aurelian's death and Tacitus's rule was only about five to eleven weeks. This is a very short time, especially considering how long it took for news to travel back then. Even though the idea of a long gap is mostly dismissed, some historians still think there was a brief period of uncertainty. They often point to certain coins as proof.

Did Severina Rule?

Some experts who believe there was a gap after Aurelian's death think Severina might have ruled the Roman Empire during that time. This idea is based only on studying coins. Many coin experts believe Severina's rule is clear from the coins. However, it's important to remember this is just a guess. No ancient writings support the idea that she ruled.

Some argue that more coins of Severina were made towards the end of Aurelian's reign. They suggest some were even made after he died. However, one historian, Alaric Watson, doesn't agree. He thinks this idea comes from people wanting to find coins from that specific time, rather than from the coins themselves. Another coin expert, David L. Vagi, says Severina ruling the empire "does not appear to be based in historical fact." But he agrees her coins might have been made in the few weeks between Aurelian's death and Tacitus becoming emperor.

The coins that are most often linked to Severina's possible rule say "CONCORDIAE MILITVM." This means "harmony of the soldiers." They show the goddess Concordia holding two army flags. This is seen as Severina trying to keep the soldiers loyal. No similar coins were made for Aurelian, which some take to mean they were made after he died. Some coins from Antioch even called Severina "Pia Felix Augusta," which was a female version of the emperor's title.

A few coins also say "CONCORDIA AVG." The use of "AVG" (singular) instead of "AVGG" (plural) might suggest she was the only ruler at that time. However, a problem with saying these coins were made after Aurelian's death is that they were mostly made in Rome and other western cities. They were not made in the eastern cities, which would have heard about Aurelian's death first. It's possible some of Severina's coins were made after Aurelian died. But this doesn't automatically mean she ruled. It could just mean there was confusion while waiting for a new emperor, and coin makers simply kept making coins for Severina.

Images for kids

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  Dupondius depicting Aurelian

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  Antoninianus depicting only Severina

See also

In Spanish: Ulpia Severina para niños