11 Facts About Clodius Albinus

Clodius Albinus was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain and Hispania after the murder of Pertinax in 193.

Clodius Albinus was born in Hadrumetum, Africa Province to an aristocratic Roman family.

The text claims that Clodius received the cognomen Albinus because of the extraordinary whiteness of his complexion.

Clodius Albinus's merit was acknowledged by the Emperor in two letters in which he calls Albinus an African, who resembled his countrymen but little, and who was praiseworthy for his military experience and the gravity of his character.

Clodius Albinus added the name Septimius to his own, and accepted the title of Caesar from him; the two shared a consulship in 194.

Clodius Albinus remained effective ruler of much of the western part of the Empire, with support from three British legions and one Spanish.

Clodius Albinus, seeing the danger of his position, prepared for resistance.

Clodius Albinus narrowly escaped being assassinated by a messenger of Severus, after which he put himself at the head of his army, which is said to have consisted of 150,000 men.

Now with nothing to lose, Albinus mobilized his legions in Britannia, proclaimed himself emperor and crossed from Britain to Gaul, bringing a large part of the British garrison with him.

Clodius Albinus defeated Severus' legate Virius Lupus, and was able to lay claim to the military resources of Gaul, but although he made Lugdunum the headquarters of his forces, he was unable to win the allegiance of the Rhine legions.

The town of Lugdunum was plundered, and the adherents of Clodius Albinus were cruelly persecuted by Severus.