Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

Africa under Septimius Severus 197

an uneventful reign of about seven months he was put to death
by his own soldiers. Of Pescennius Niger we have no record,
and his place in Africa is a blank. But of the two remaining
claimants, Albinus and Severus, both of them natives of Africa,
there is abundant evidence of their struggle for supremacy
in the records of contemporary writers. Albinus, we know,
was born at Hadrumetum (Susa), his father's name being
Cejonius Postumius. The extreme whiteness of his skin pro-
cured for him the name by which he is generally known. Mili-
tary success in early life during the reign of Commodus entitled
him to high rank in the Roman army, and consequently, when
the governorship of Great Britain was vacant, the Emperor
nominated him to this distinguished appointment. It is said
that when the title of Caesar was offered to him by Commodus
he refused, but that subsequently, on the death of Pertinax, being
pressed by the Senate and with the concurrence of Septimius
Severus, he acquiesced. The pretended friendship of Severus
for his powerful rival is clearly expressed in a letter written by
Severus A.D. 197, and quoted by Capitolinus. It ran thus :
' The Emperor Severus Augustus to Clodius Albinus Csesar,
his dearly beloved and most valued brother, Greeting. After
our conquest of Pescennius we sent a letter to the Senate at
Rome, which, full of good will towards us, was graciously received.
I beg you will display towards the government the same temper
of mind which makes you the dear brother of my heart, the
brother of the Empire. Bassianus and Geta (his two sons) salute
you. Our dear Julia (Julia Domna, wife of Severus) salutes
you and your sister. We send to your little boy Pescennius
Prineus some presents worthy of his rank and yours.' This
letter was confided by Severus to a few trusted companions, who
were instructed to induce Albinus to leave the palace, with a
view to his being murdered in some little-frequented spot.
Albinus suspected that a snare was being laid for him, and,
having put the messengers to torture, learnt the truth. He
then assembled a big army and met his antagonist in the plains
of Gaul. The following year Albinus was defeated and his head
carried in triumph through the streets of Rome. His name
appears on a broken slab found at Agbia (Ain Hedjah) 1 bearing
the date A.D. 194, and is also recorded on a stone near Khen-
1 C.I.L. No. '549. Temple, ii. p. 30S.