Editing Pescennius Niger (section)

== Septimius Severus and Niger ==
{{Year of Five Emperors}}
Severus wasted no time consolidating his hold on Rome, and ordered his newly appointed prefect of the watch, [[Gaius Fulvius Plautianus]] to capture Niger's children and hold them as hostages.<ref name="Potter, pg. 103">Potter, p. 103</ref> Meanwhile, Niger was busy securing the support of all of the governors in the [[Asia (Roman province)|Asiatic provinces]], including the esteemed [[proconsul]] of Asia, [[Asellius Aemilianus]], who had occupied [[Byzantium]] in the name of Niger.<ref>Southern, p. 32; Meckler, ''Pescennius Niger''</ref> He then proceeded to secure direct control over [[Aegyptus (Roman province)|Egypt]], while Severus did as much as he could to protect the wheat supply, and ordered troops loyal to him to keep watch on the western border of Egypt and prevent the legion stationed there – [[Legio II Traiana Fortis]] – from sending military aid to Niger.<ref>Southern, p. 32</ref>

Although the Asiatic provinces contained great wealth, Niger's military resources were inferior to Severus’. While Severus had the sixteen Danubian legions at his disposal, Niger possessed only six: three in [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]], the two stationed in [[Arabia Petraea]], and one located at [[Malatya|Melitene]].<ref name="Potter, pg. 103"/> Niger therefore decided to act aggressively, and sent a force into [[Thrace]] where it defeated a part of Severus’ army under [[Lucius Fabius Cilo]] at [[Marmara Ereğlisi|Perinthus]].<ref name="Potter, pg. 104">Potter, p. 104</ref>

Severus then marched from Rome to the east, sending his general [[Tiberius Claudius Candidus]] ahead of him.<ref name="Bowman, pg. 4">Bowman, p. 4</ref> Niger, having made Byzantium his headquarters, gave Asellius Aemilianus the task of defending the southern shore of the [[Sea of Marmara]].<ref name="Bowman, pg. 4"/> As Severus approached, he offered Niger the opportunity to surrender and go into exile, but Niger refused, trusting in the outcome of a military encounter.<ref name="Meckler, ''Pescennius Niger''"/> In the fall of 193, Candidus met Aemilianus in battle at [[Battle of Cyzicus (193)|Cyzicus]], resulting in Niger's forces being defeated as well as the capture and death of Aemilianus.<ref name=":0">Bowman, p. 4; Potter, p. 104; Southern, p. 33</ref> Byzantium was now placed under siege, forcing Niger to abandon the city and retreat to [[Nicaea]].<ref name="Bowman, pg. 4"/> The city remained loyal to Pescennius Niger, and it would take Severus until the end of 195 to finally capture Byzantium.<ref name="Southern, pg. 33">Southern, p. 33</ref>

Another battle took place outside [[Battle of Nicaea|Nicaea]] in later December 193, which also resulted in a defeat for Niger. Nevertheless, Niger was able to withdraw the bulk of his army intact to the [[Taurus Mountains]], where he held the passes for a few months while he returned to Antioch.<ref>Meckler, ''Pescennius Niger''; Bowman, p. 4; Potter, p. 104</ref> However, Niger's support in Asia was falling. Some previously loyal cities changed their allegiance, in particular [[Latakia|Laodicea]] and [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]].<ref name="Southern, pg. 33"/> By February 13, 194, Egypt had declared for Severus, as had the imperial legate of [[Arabia (Roman province)|Arabia]], further diminishing Niger's chances.<ref>Bowman, p. 4; Potter, p. 104</ref>

After Severus had replaced Candidus with another general, [[Publius Cornelius Anullinus]], Niger met Anullinus in battle at [[Battle of Issus (194)|Issus]] in May 194, where after a long and hard-fought struggle, Niger was decisively defeated.<ref name=":0"/> Forced to retreat to [[Antioch]], Niger was captured while attempting to flee to [[Parthia]].<ref>Meckler, ''Pescennius Niger''; Southern, p. 33</ref> Niger was beheaded, and his severed head was taken to Byzantium, but the city refused to surrender. Eventually, Severus stormed and completely destroyed Byzantium before he had it rebuilt.<ref name="Southern, pg. 33"/> Niger's head eventually found its way to Rome where it was displayed.<ref name="Potter, pg. 104"/>

The Historia Augusta relates that after his victory in the east, Severus punished Niger's supporters.<ref>Potter, p. 106</ref> He had Niger's wife and children put to death, while his estates were confiscated.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Life of Pescennius Niger'', 6:1</ref>`However, according to Roman scholar Geoffrey Turton, Septimius refrained from vindictive reprisals. After Niger's death his wife and children served no use as hostages, and were allowed to live in retirement, where it was supposed, they would play no further part in public affairs. Given the unreliability of the Historia Augusta, which often served as a propaganda vehicle for succeeding emperors, this is almost certainly the more likely outcome.<ref>Turton, ''The Syrian Princesses'' p. 44</ref>