Sextus Julius Severus

Sextus Julius Severus was an accomplished Roman General of the 2nd century AD. He also held the office of suffect consul in the last three months of 127 with L. Aemilius Iuncus as his colleague.

Julius Severus was born in Colonia Claudia Aequum, today Čitluk, a small village 6 km from the town of Sinj in Dalmatian Croatia. Julius Severus served as Governor of Moesia; he was appointed Governor of Britain around 131.

In 133 he was transferred to Judea, to help suppress the Bar Kochba rebellion there. Because of his military reputation, historians have seen him as a troubleshooter, sent to troublesome provinces to bring peace through war and his presence has been taken as indication of unrest in Britain at the time. There is no archaeological evidence to suggest fighting in Britain under his governorship although a reference by the orator Fronto to many soldiers dying in Britain under Hadrian's reign may refer to trouble at this time.

"Soon [AD 132], however, all Judaea had been stirred up, and the Jews everywhere were showing signs of disturbance ... Hadrian sent against them his best generals. The first of these was Julius Severus, who was dispatched from Britain, where he was governor, against the Jews." – Cassius Dio, History of Rome LXIX.xiii.1-2 - Epitome of Xiphilinus

References

• A.R. Birley, The Roman Government of Britain, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 129-133 ISBN 978-0-19-925237-4.
• E. Dabrowa, The Governors of Roman Syria from Augustus to Septimius Severus, 1981, pp 94-96.
• W. Eck, 'Hadrian, the Bar Kokhba Revolt, and the Epigraphic Transmission', in The Bar Kokhba war reconsidered : new perspectives on the second Jewish revolt against Rome, Peter Schfer (editor), Tibingen: Mohr: 2003, pp. 168-169.