L. Septimius Severus Character Analysis in The Prince

A military commander under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, Severus became emperor of Rome in 193 A.D. Machiavelli praises Severus as a "remarkable and outstanding . . . new prince" and applauds his ability "to act the part of both a fox and a lion." Severus' prowess allowed him to establish and maintain his new status as emperor.

L. Septimius Severus Character Timeline in The Prince

The timeline below shows where the character L. Septimius Severus appears in The Prince. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In contrast, Commodus, Severus, Antoninus Caracalla, and Maximinus, who were all "extremely cruel" and greedy rulers, met "unhappy ends,"... (full context)

Machiavelli elevates Severus, who as a new prince ably acted "the part of both a fox and a... (full context)

Severus' son, Antoninus Caracalla, was also a "military man" who won the devotion of the soldiers.... (full context)

...cannot imitate the actions of Marcus Aurelius, nor is he bound to follow those of Severus." Instead, Machiavelli recommends that a prince carefully combine varying models of conduct, selecting from Severus... (full context)