Publius Septimius Geta (father of Septimius Severus)
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Publius Septimius Geta was the father of Lucius Septimius Severus, father-in-law of the Roman empress Julia Domna
and the paternal grandfather of Roman emperors Caracalla
and Geta
. His name was found as an inscription in Cirta
, Africa
.
Geta was of Libyco
-Punic origin. His ancestry had been based in Leptis Magna
(southeast of Carthage
, Africa, modern Libya
, North Africa
). His Gens Septimia was originally a Plebeian one. His family were local, wealthy and distinguished in Leptis Magna.
Geta's father Lucius Septimius Severus (c. 70 – aft. 110) was a Roman
Eques, who may have been the wealthy equestrian that is highly commemorated by the Flavian dynasty
poet
Statius
. Geta's mother Vitoria, born c. 85, was a daughter of Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
(c. 60 – aft. 105), Consul
Suffectus in 105, and wife Hosidia, born c. 65 and daughter of Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
. Geta's paternal grandparents were Marcus Septimius Aper, born c. 35, and wife Octavia. He also had a sister named Septimia Polla, born c. 110.
Geta had two cousins, both brothers, sons of a Septimius, who served as Consuls under Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius
. One was Gaius Septimius Severus, Consul Suffectus in July 160 and Governor
of Numidia
in 173-174 and then again in 177. The other was Publius Septimius Aper, who served as Consul Suffectus in July 153 and was the father of Publius Septimius Aper and grandfather of Lucius Septimius Aper, Consul Suffectus in 160. Another relative of his, Lucius Septimius F... was Consul Suffectus in 183. Another of his relatives, probably a grandson of Publius Septimius Aper, was Gaius Septimius Severus Aper
, Consul Ordinarius in 207, who died in 212. Yet another relative of his was Septimius Bassus
. He might also have been related to Tertullian
.
Geta seems to have held no major political status.
He married Fulvia Pia (c. 125 – bef. 198), a woman of Roman descent belonging to the gens Fulvia
, an Italian patrician family that originated in Tusculum
, daughter of Fulvius Pius, born c. 100, and wife Plautia Octavilla, born c. 110, and sister of Gaius Fulvius Plautianus
. Her paternal grandfather was Fulvius Pius, born c. 100, son of Fulvius Pius, born c. 70, grandson of Fulvius, born c. 40, great-grandson of Fulvius, born c. 10, and great-great-grandson of Marcus Fulvius Saturnius (c. 20 BC – aft. 25), a Nobleman in Leptis Magna. Her paternal grandmother was Plautia Octavilla, born c. 110, daughter of Lucius Plautius Octavianus (c. 90 – aft. 150), a Nobleman in Leptis Magna c. 150, and wife Aquilia Blaesilla, born c. 190, in turn daughter of Gaius Aquilius Postumus, born c. 55, and wife Hateria, born c. 70.
Geta and Pia had three children, a son Lucius Septimius Severus, another son a younger Publius Septimius Geta
and a daughter Septimia Octavilla.
Julia Domna
Julia Domna was a member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire. Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Emperors Geta and Caracalla, Julia was among the most important women ever to exercise power behind the throne in the Roman Empire.- Family background...
and the paternal grandfather of Roman emperors Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
and Geta
Publius Septimius Geta
Geta , was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death.-Early life:Geta was the younger son of Septimius Severus by his second wife Julia Domna...
. His name was found as an inscription in Cirta
Cirta
Cirta was the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Numidia in northern Africa . Its strategically important port city was Russicada...
, Africa
Africa Province
The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day northern Tunisia, and the small Mediterranean coast of modern-day western Libya along the Syrtis Minor...
.
Geta was of Libyco
Ancient Libya
The Latin name Libya referred to the region west of the Nile Valley, generally corresponding to modern Northwest Africa. Climate changes affected the locations of the settlements....
-Punic origin. His ancestry had been based in Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna also known as Lectis Magna , also called Lpqy, Neapolis, Lebida or Lebda to modern-day residents of Libya, was a prominent city of the Roman Empire. Its ruins are located in Khoms, Libya, east of Tripoli, on the coast where the Wadi Lebda meets the sea...
(southeast of Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
, Africa, modern Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
). His Gens Septimia was originally a Plebeian one. His family were local, wealthy and distinguished in Leptis Magna.
Geta's father Lucius Septimius Severus (c. 70 – aft. 110) was a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
Eques, who may have been the wealthy equestrian that is highly commemorated by the Flavian dynasty
Flavian dynasty
The Flavian dynasty was a Roman Imperial Dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96 AD, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian , and his two sons Titus and Domitian . The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of 69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Statius
Statius
Publius Papinius Statius was a Roman poet of the 1st century CE . Besides his poetry in Latin, which include an epic poem, the Thebaid, a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae, and the unfinished epic, the Achilleid, he is best known for his appearance as a major character in the Purgatory...
. Geta's mother Vitoria, born c. 85, was a daughter of Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
Marcus Vitorius Marcellus
Marcus Vitorius Marcellus or Vitorius Marcellus was a Roman Senator and a man of consular rank who lived in the 1st century and 2nd century. His father was probably named Gaius Vitorius and little is known on his origins....
(c. 60 – aft. 105), Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
Suffectus in 105, and wife Hosidia, born c. 65 and daughter of Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta was a Roman Senator and General who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a praetor some time before 42...
. Geta's paternal grandparents were Marcus Septimius Aper, born c. 35, and wife Octavia. He also had a sister named Septimia Polla, born c. 110.
Geta had two cousins, both brothers, sons of a Septimius, who served as Consuls under Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius , also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 to 161. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii. He did not possess the sobriquet "Pius" until after his accession to the throne...
. One was Gaius Septimius Severus, Consul Suffectus in July 160 and Governor
Roman governor
A Roman governor was an official either elected or appointed to be the chief administrator of Roman law throughout one or more of the many provinces constituting the Roman Empire...
of Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
in 173-174 and then again in 177. The other was Publius Septimius Aper, who served as Consul Suffectus in July 153 and was the father of Publius Septimius Aper and grandfather of Lucius Septimius Aper, Consul Suffectus in 160. Another relative of his, Lucius Septimius F... was Consul Suffectus in 183. Another of his relatives, probably a grandson of Publius Septimius Aper, was Gaius Septimius Severus Aper
Gaius Septimius Severus Aper
Gaius Septimius Severus Aper , Consul Ordinarius in 207.Aper came from Leptis Magna and was probably a grandson of the Consul Suffectus of July 153, Publius Septimius Aper. Aper was in the year 207, together with the otherwise unknown Lucius Annius Maximus, Consul Ordinarius...
, Consul Ordinarius in 207, who died in 212. Yet another relative of his was Septimius Bassus
Septimius Bassus
Septimius Bassus was a Roman politician.Bassus was born in a senatorial family, the son of Lucius Septimius Severus and wife Pomponia Bassa . His paternal grandfather was Lucius Septimius ... , of the Gens Septimia, while his maternal grandparents were the Roman Senator Pomponius Bassus and the...
. He might also have been related to Tertullian
Tertullian
Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian , was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. He is the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature. He also was a notable early Christian apologist and...
.
Geta seems to have held no major political status.
He married Fulvia Pia (c. 125 – bef. 198), a woman of Roman descent belonging to the gens Fulvia
Fulvius
Fulvius was the nomen of the gens Fulvia, a patrician gens of ancient Rome that originally came from Tusculum. They were originally a plebeian family but were upgraded to patricians soon after the Roman Republic was formed...
, an Italian patrician family that originated in Tusculum
Tusculum
Tusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.-Location:Tusculum is one of the largest Roman cities in Alban Hills. The ruins of Tusculum are located on Tuscolo hill—more specifically on the northern edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano...
, daughter of Fulvius Pius, born c. 100, and wife Plautia Octavilla, born c. 110, and sister of Gaius Fulvius Plautianus
Gaius Fulvius Plautianus
Gaius or Lucius Fulvius Plautianus was a member of the Roman gens Fulvius, a family of the patrician status which had been active in politics since the Roman Republic....
. Her paternal grandfather was Fulvius Pius, born c. 100, son of Fulvius Pius, born c. 70, grandson of Fulvius, born c. 40, great-grandson of Fulvius, born c. 10, and great-great-grandson of Marcus Fulvius Saturnius (c. 20 BC – aft. 25), a Nobleman in Leptis Magna. Her paternal grandmother was Plautia Octavilla, born c. 110, daughter of Lucius Plautius Octavianus (c. 90 – aft. 150), a Nobleman in Leptis Magna c. 150, and wife Aquilia Blaesilla, born c. 190, in turn daughter of Gaius Aquilius Postumus, born c. 55, and wife Hateria, born c. 70.
Geta and Pia had three children, a son Lucius Septimius Severus, another son a younger Publius Septimius Geta
Publius Septimius Geta (brother of Septimius Severus)
Publius Septimius Geta was the second son to the elder Publius Septimius Geta and wife Fulvia Pia. He was born and raised in Leptis Magna . He was of Berber, Libyco-Punic and Roman ancestry.This Geta was more politically active than his father...
and a daughter Septimia Octavilla.
Sources
- http://www.roman-emperors.org/sepsev.htm
- http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/sept-severus.html
- http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Septimius_Severus*.html
- http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/MS/8th/romanhis/Forum/mattb/severus/index.htm
- Continuité gentilice et continuité sénatoriale dans les familles sénatoriales romaines à l'époque impériale, 2000