The Roman Empress Ulpia Severina: Ruler and Goddess

Ulpia Severina, wife of Aurelian, is an enigmatic and less-known Augustae who lived during the military anarchy. This book explores her life and honors, focusing on the coins issued in her name and the honorific inscriptions that had not been thoroughly examined. Her unique situation on the throne of Rome deserves more attention in university history textbooks, as it marks the transition between the death of Aurelian and the advent of emperor Tacitus.

Format: Hardback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

During the fifty years of the so-called "military anarchy" (235-284 A.D.), Ulpia Severina, the wife of the "Illyrian" emperor Aurelian (270-275 AD), stands out as one of the most enigmatic and lesser-known figures. This book delves into the life of Ulpia Severina, despite her never being named directly in literary sources. Instead, her story has been primarily explored through the examination of the numerous coins minted in her name and the discovery of numerous intriguing honorific inscriptions that had previously been overlooked or undervalued. What sets Ulpia Severina apart is her unique position as the sole ruler of Rome during this period. This exceptional circumstance warrants greater attention than it has received. The university history textbooks that focus on reconstructing a fifty-year phase of Roman-imperial history must be rewritten or integrated to adequately acknowledge the significance of this empress and the so-called "interregnum," which lasted at least two months, between the death of Aurelian and the ascension of emperor Tacitus.

Ulpia Severina, the wife of Aurelian, was a mysterious and lesser-known figure during the "military anarchy" (235-284 A.D.). This book explores her life, focusing on her role despite not being named directly in literary sources. Instead, her story is examined through the analysis of numerous coins minted in her name and the discovery of intriguing honorific inscriptions that had been overlooked or undervalued. Ulpia Severina's unique position as the sole ruler of Rome during this period warrants greater attention than it has received. University history textbooks must be rewritten or integrated to adequately acknowledge her significance and the "interregnum" between the death of Aurelian and the ascension of emperor Tacitus.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 155 x 219 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031286506
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023