Editing Septimius Severus (section)

== Assessment and legacy ==
[[File:Leptis Magna Arch of Septimius Severus.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Arch of Septimius Severus (Leptis Magna)|Arch of Septimius Severus at Leptis Magna]]]]

By the close of his reign the Roman Empire reached an extent of over {{convert|2.0|mi2|0|disp=number}} million square kilometres, which scholars like [[David L. Kennedy]], Lukas De Blois, and Derrick Riley state expanded the empire to its greatest physical extent.<ref name="kennedy">[[David L. Kennedy]], Derrick Riley (2012), [https://books.google.com/books?id=g1eQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 ''Rome's Desert Frontiers'', page 13] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730070357/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=g1eQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |date=30 July 2017 }}, [[Routledge]]</ref><ref name="spek">[[R.J. van der Spek]], Lukas De Blois (2008), [https://books.google.com/books?id=PDV8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA272 ''An Introduction to the Ancient World'', page 272] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730064823/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PDV8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA272 |date=30 July 2017 }}, [[Routledge]]</ref><ref name="JBCampbell">J. B. Campbell (2012), [https://books.google.com/books?id=iznJ_d6mQagC&dq=roman+empire+%22greatest+extent%22+severus&pg=PA13 ''Rivers and the Power of Ancient Rome'', page 13], University of North Carolina Press</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Möller |first=Lenelotte |title=Cassius Dio: Römische Geschichte |publisher=marixverlag |year=2012 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferrary |first=Jean-Louis |title=Eutrope: Abrégé d'histoire romaine |publisher=Les belles lettres |year=2003 |isbn=978-2251014142 |language=Fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dufraigne |first=Pierre |title=Aurélius Victor: Livre des Césars |publisher=Les belles lettres |year=2003 |isbn=978-2251010182 |language=Fr}}</ref>

[[Edward Gibbon]] famously levelled a harsh indictment of Septimius Severus as a principal agent in the empire's decline. "The contemporaries of Severus, in the enjoyment of the peace and glory of his reign, forgave the cruelties by which it had been introduced. Posterity, who experienced the fatal effects of his maxims and example, justly considered him as the principal author of the decline of the Roman empire." According to Gibbon, "his daring ambition [...] was never diverted from its steady course by the allurements of pleasure, the apprehension of danger, or the feelings of humanity."<ref>{{cite book|first=Edward|last=Gibbon|author-link=Edward Gibbon|location=London|publisher=Cadell|oclc=840075577|url=http://www.ccel.org/g/gibbon/decline/volume1/chap5.htm|title=The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|year=1776|page=96|access-date=25 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219010818/http://www.ccel.org/g/gibbon/decline/volume1/chap5.htm|archive-date=19 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> His enlargement of the [[Limes Tripolitanus]] secured [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]], the agricultural base of the empire where he was born.<ref>Kenneth D. Matthews, Jr., ''Cities in the Sand''. [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Libya/_Texts/MATCIS/Background*.html The Roman Background of Tripolitania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619111251/https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Libya/_Texts/MATCIS/Background%2A.html |date=19 June 2023 }}, 1957</ref> His victory over the [[Parthian Empire]] was for a time decisive, securing [[Nisibis]] and [[Singara]] for the empire and establishing a ''status quo'' of Roman dominance in the region until 251.<ref>{{cite book|first=Paul|last=Erdkamp|isbn=978-1-4443-3921-5|publisher=Blackwell |location= Malden (Massachusetts)|title=A Companion to the Roman Army|year=2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1D612o_X2VYC&q=septimius%20severus%20nisibis&pg=PA251|page=251}}</ref> His policy of an expanded and better-rewarded army was criticised by his contemporaries [[Cassius Dio]] and [[Herodianus]]: in particular, they pointed out the increasing burden, in the form of taxes and services, the civilian population had to bear to maintain the new and better-paid army.<ref>[[Cassius Dio]], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/75*.html ''Roman History''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713102219/https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/75%2A.html |date=13 July 2021 }} LXXV.2.3</ref><ref>[[Herodianus]], ''[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/herodian_03_book3.htm History of the Roman Empire]'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124024755/http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/herodian_03_book3.htm |date=24 November 2009 }} III.9.2–3</ref> The large and ongoing increase in military expenditure caused problems for all of his successors.<ref name="spek"/>

To maintain his enlarged military, he debased the [[Roman currency]]. Upon his accession he decreased the silver purity of the [[denarius]] from 81.5% to 78.5%, although the silver weight actually increased, rising from 2.40&nbsp;grams to 2.46&nbsp;grams. Nevertheless, the following year he debased the denarius again because of rising military expenditures. The silver purity decreased from 78.5% to 64.5%—the silver weight dropping from 2.46&nbsp;grams to 1.98&nbsp;grams. In 196 he reduced the purity and silver weight of the denarius again, to 54% and 1.82&nbsp;grams, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tulane.edu/~august/handouts/601cprin.htm |title=Tulane University "Roman Currency of the Principate" |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210220413/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/handouts/601cprin.htm |archive-date=10 February 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> Severus' currency [[debasement]] was the largest since the reign of [[Nero]], compromising the long-term strength of the economy.<ref>Kenneth W. Harl, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5yPDL0EykeAC&pg=PA126 Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700, Part 700]'', p. 126</ref>

Severus was also distinguished for his buildings. Apart from the [[Arch of Septimius Severus|triumphal arch]] in the Roman Forum carrying his full name, he also built the [[Septizodium]] in Rome. He enriched his native city of [[Leptis Magna]], including commissioning [[Arch of Septimius Severus (Leptis Magna)|a triumphal arch]] on the occasion of his visit of 203.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Gregorovius|first=Ferdinand|title=History of the city of Rome in the Middle Ages|volume=3|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year= 1895|oclc=57224029|page=541}}</ref>

[[File:Roman Empire with provinces in 210 AD.png|thumb|center|300px|The Provinces of the Roman Empire in 210 AD]]