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Changing short description from "Augusta and wife of Emperor Philip the Arab" to "Roman empress from 244 to 249"
 
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{{Short description|Augusta and wife of Emperor Philip the Arab}}
{{Short description|Roman empress from 244 to 249}}
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| caption = Marble sculpture of Otacilia Severa.
| caption = Possible bust of Otacilia Severa, [[Walters Art Museum]], [[Baltimore]].

| succession = [[List of Roman empresses|Empress of the Roman Empire]]
| succession = [[List of Roman empresses|Empress of the Roman Empire]]
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| death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->249?
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| father = Governor Otacilius Severus
| father = Governor Otacilius Severus
| mother =
| mother =
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| religion = Uncertain, possibly [[Christianity|Christian]]

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| religion = Uncertain, possibly Christian
}}
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'''Marcia Otacilia Severa''' was the Empress of [[Rome]] and wife of [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Philip the Arab]], who reigned over the [[Roman Empire]] from 244 to 249.
'''Marcia Otacilia Severa''' was the [[Roman empress]] and wife of [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Philip the Arab]], who reigned over the [[Roman Empire]] from 244 to 249. She was the mother of Emperor [[Philip II (Roman emperor)|Philip II]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite DGRBM|author=WR|title=Philippus II., M. Julius|volume=3|page=273|url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/acl3129.0003.001/281}}</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
=== Early life ===
She was a member of the ancient [[gens]] [[Otacilia gens|Otacilia]], of consular and senatorial rank. Her father was Otacilius Severus or Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] and [[Moesia]], while her mother was either a member of or related to the gens [[Marcia gens|Marcia]]. According to sources she had a brother called Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of Lower [[Moesia]] in 246–247.
She was a member of the ancient [[gens]] [[Otacilia gens|Otacilia]], of consular and senatorial rank. Her father was Otacilius Severus or Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] and [[Moesia]], while her mother was either a member of or related to the gens [[Marcia gens|Marcia]]. According to sources she had a brother called Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of Lower [[Moesia]] in 246–247.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/Otacilia-index.htm |title=Otacilia Severa |work=Antoninianus Presentation |publisher=Et Tu Antiquities |date=24 February 2010 |access-date=14 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512085548/http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/Otacilia-index.htm |archive-date=12 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Marriage===
===Marriage===
[[File:Octalia Severa Antoninianus Concordia 1.jpg|alt=silver antoninianus of Octalia Severa|thumb|Silver [[Antoninianus]] of Otacilia Severa. Inscription: OTACILIA SEVERA AVG / CONCORDIA AVGG; 247 AD.]]
[[File:Octalia Severa Antoninianus Concordia 1.jpg|alt=silver antoninianus of Octalia Severa|thumb|Silver [[Antoninianus]] of Otacilia Severa. Inscription: OTACILIA SEVERA AVG / CONCORDIA AVGG; 247 AD.]]
[[File:Otacilie-Sevère.jpg|thumb|On a tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria, struck AD 247.]]
[[File:Otacilie-Sevère.jpg|thumb|On a tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria, struck AD 247.]]
In 234 Severa married Philip, who was probably serving at the time in the [[Praetorian Guard]] under Emperor [[Alexander Severus]]. They had at least one child, Marcus Iulius Philippus Severus or [[Philippus II]] (born in 238), who later became co-emperor with his father.{{sfn |Meckler |1999}}
In 234 Severa married Philip, who was probably serving at the time in the [[Praetorian Guard]] under Emperor [[Alexander Severus]]. They had at least one child, Marcus Iulius Philippus Severus or [[Philippus II]] (born in 238), who later became co-emperor with his father.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meckler |first=Michael L. |title=Philip the Arab (244–249 A.D.) |website=De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors |date=1999-06-07 |url=https://www.roman-emperors.org/philarab.htm}}</ref>

In February 244, the emperor [[Gordian III|Gordianus]] died in [[Mesopotamia]]; it is suspected in the sources that he was murdered, and there is a possibility that Severa was involved in the conspiracy. Her husband Philip became the new emperor, giving Gordian a proper funeral and returning his ashes to [[Rome]] for burial.


In February 244, the emperor [[Gordian III|Gordianus]] died in [[Mesopotamia]]; it is suspected in the sources that he was murdered, and there is a possibility that Severa was involved in the conspiracy. Her husband Philip became the new emperor, giving Gordian a proper funeral and returning his ashes to [[Rome]] for burial.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kienast |first=Dietmar |url=https://archive.org/details/romische-kaisertabelle |title=Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie |last2=Werner Eck |author-link2=Werner Eck |last3=Matthäus Heil |publisher=[[Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft|WBG]] |date=2017 |isbn=978-3-5342-6724-8 |edition=6th |location=Darmstadt |language=de |trans-title=Roman imperial table: Basics of the Roman imperial chronology |ref={{SfnRef|Kienast|Eck|Heil}} |orig-date=1990 |name-list-style=amp |page=192}}</ref> Philip gave Severa the honorific title of [[Augusta (honorific)|Augusta]] and had their son made heir of the purple.
Philip gave Severa the honorific title of [[Augusta (honorific)|Augusta]] and had their son made heir of the purple.


Severa and Philip are sometimes considered as the first [[Christianity|Christian]] imperial couple, because during their reign [[Persecution of Christians|persecutions of Christians]] were replaced by a policy of tolerance, but this belief has not been proven. It was through her intervention, for instance, that Bishop and Saint [[Babylas of Antioch]] was saved from persecution.
Severa and Philip are sometimes considered as the first [[Christianity|Christian]] imperial couple, because during their reign [[Persecution of Christians|persecutions of Christians]] were replaced by a policy of tolerance, but this belief has not been proven. It was through her intervention, for instance, that Bishop and Saint [[Babylas of Antioch]] was saved from persecution.


In August 249, Philip was killed near [[Verona]] in battle against [[Decius]], who had been proclaimed Augustus by the Danubian armies. Severa was in Rome; when the news of her husband's death arrived, their son was murdered by the [[Praetorian Guard]] still in her arms. Severa survived her husband and son and lived later in obscurity.
In August 249, Philip was killed near [[Verona]] in battle against [[Decius]], who had been proclaimed Augustus by the Danubian armies. Severa was in Rome; when the news of her husband's death arrived, their son was murdered by the [[Praetorian Guard]] still in her arms. Severa survived her husband and son and lived later in obscurity.{{cn|date=August 2024}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== Sources ==
== External links ==
* {{cite web |url=http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/Otacilia-index.htm |title=Otacilia Severa |work=Antoninianus Presentation |publisher=Et Tu Antiquities |date=24 February 2010 |access-date=14 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512085548/http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/Otacilia-index.htm |archive-date=12 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/NumisWiki/view.asp?key=Otacilia%20Severa |title=Otacilia Severa |work=NumisWiki, The Collaborative Numismatics Project |date=15 February 2006 |first=Joseph T. |last=Sermarini |publisher=Forum Ancient Coins}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/NumisWiki/view.asp?key=Otacilia%20Severa |title=Otacilia Severa |work=NumisWiki, The Collaborative Numismatics Project |date=15 February 2006 |first=Joseph T. |last=Sermarini |publisher=Forum Ancient Coins}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=718 |title=Otacilia Severa |work=Forum Ancient Coins |publisher=Forum Ancient Coins}} <!--http://web.archive.org/web/20070707195032/http://www.forumancientcoins.com:80/historia/coins/r5/r1641.htm -->
* {{cite web |url=http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=718 |title=Otacilia Severa |work=Forum Ancient Coins |publisher=Forum Ancient Coins}} <!--http://web.archive.org/web/20070707195032/http://www.forumancientcoins.com:80/historia/coins/r5/r1641.htm -->

Latest revision as of 09:39, 2 November 2024

Marcia Otacilia Severa
Augusta
Possible bust of Otacilia Severa, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
Empress of the Roman Empire
Tenure244–249
SpouseEmperor Philippus I the Arab
Issue
  • Philippus II
  • Iulia Severa (or Severina)
  • Quintus Philippus Severus
Names
Marcia Otacilia Severa
Regnal name
Marcia Otacilia Severa Augusta
FatherGovernor Otacilius Severus
ReligionUncertain, possibly Christian

Marcia Otacilia Severa was the Roman empress and wife of Emperor Philip the Arab, who reigned over the Roman Empire from 244 to 249. She was the mother of Emperor Philip II.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

She was a member of the ancient gens Otacilia, of consular and senatorial rank. Her father was Otacilius Severus or Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of Macedonia and Moesia, while her mother was either a member of or related to the gens Marcia. According to sources she had a brother called Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of Lower Moesia in 246–247.[2]

Marriage

[edit]
silver antoninianus of Octalia Severa
Silver Antoninianus of Otacilia Severa. Inscription: OTACILIA SEVERA AVG / CONCORDIA AVGG; 247 AD.
On a tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria, struck AD 247.

In 234 Severa married Philip, who was probably serving at the time in the Praetorian Guard under Emperor Alexander Severus. They had at least one child, Marcus Iulius Philippus Severus or Philippus II (born in 238), who later became co-emperor with his father.[3]

In February 244, the emperor Gordianus died in Mesopotamia; it is suspected in the sources that he was murdered, and there is a possibility that Severa was involved in the conspiracy. Her husband Philip became the new emperor, giving Gordian a proper funeral and returning his ashes to Rome for burial.[4] Philip gave Severa the honorific title of Augusta and had their son made heir of the purple.

Severa and Philip are sometimes considered as the first Christian imperial couple, because during their reign persecutions of Christians were replaced by a policy of tolerance, but this belief has not been proven. It was through her intervention, for instance, that Bishop and Saint Babylas of Antioch was saved from persecution.

In August 249, Philip was killed near Verona in battle against Decius, who had been proclaimed Augustus by the Danubian armies. Severa was in Rome; when the news of her husband's death arrived, their son was murdered by the Praetorian Guard still in her arms. Severa survived her husband and son and lived later in obscurity.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Public Domain Ramsay, William (1870). "Philippus II., M. Julius". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 3. p. 273.
  2. ^ "Otacilia Severa". Antoninianus Presentation. Et Tu Antiquities. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  3. ^ Meckler, Michael L. (1999-06-07). "Philip the Arab (244–249 A.D.)". De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors.
  4. ^ Kienast, Dietmar; Werner Eck & Matthäus Heil (2017) [1990]. Römische Kaisertabelle: Grundzüge einer römischen Kaiserchronologie [Roman imperial table: Basics of the Roman imperial chronology] (in German) (6th ed.). Darmstadt: WBG. p. 192. ISBN 978-3-5342-6724-8.
[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • (in French) Minaud, Gérard, Les vies de 12 femmes d’empereur romain - Devoirs, Intrigues & Voluptés , Paris, L’Harmattan, 2012, ch. 10, La vie de Marcia Otacilia Sévéra, femme de Philippe l’Arabe, p. 243-262
Royal titles
Preceded by Empress of Rome
244–249 		Succeeded by
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