Flavius Severianus (died 313) was the son of the Roman Emperor Flavius Valerius Severus.

Life and execution

After his father died in 307 in Italy having surrendered to his rivals

Maximian Maximian ( la, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus; c. 250 – c. July 310), nicknamed ''Herculius'', was Roman emperor from 286 to 305. He was '' Caesar'' from 285 to 286, then ''Augustus'' from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his ...

and

Maxentius Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius (c. 283 – 28 October 312) was a Roman emperor, who reigned from 306 until his death in 312. Despite ruling in Italy and North Africa, and having the recognition of the Senate in Rome, he was not recognized ...

, Severus' young son Flavius Severianus sought refuge in the Eastern part of the empire under

Galerius Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus (; 258 – May 311) was Roman emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sasanian Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across th ...

. When Galerius died in 311, Severianus suspected that

Licinius Valerius Licinianus Licinius (c. 265 – 325) was Roman emperor from 308 to 324. For most of his reign he was the colleague and rival of Constantine I, with whom he co-authored the Edict of Milan, AD 313, that granted official toleration to C ...

intended to do him harm as a potential rival in his ambitions to rule the East and so he fled to

Maximinus Daza Galerius Valerius Maximinus, born as Daza (20 November 270 – July 313), was Roman emperor from 310 to 313 CE. He became embroiled in the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy between rival claimants for control of the empire, in which he was defeate ...

in Asia who made him ''

praeses ''Praeses'' (Latin ''praesides'') is a Latin word meaning "placed before" or "at the head". In antiquity, notably under the Roman Dominate, it was used to refer to Roman governors; it continues to see some use for various modern positions. ...

'' (governor) of the province of

Isauria Isauria ( or ; grc, Ἰσαυρία), in ancient geography, is a rugged, isolated, district in the interior of Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surro ...

. In August 313 Maximinus Daza went to war against Licinius. Severianus accompanied him on this campaign which ended in defeat for Daza. Severianus was captured following the death of Daza, and Licinius had him executed under the pretense that Severianus intended to assume the imperial office himself.Lactantius. Lord Hailes (transl.) (2021) ''On the Deaths of the Persecutors: A Translation of De Mortibus Persecutorum by Lucius Cæcilius Firmianus Lactantius''
Evolution Publishing, Merchantville, NJ , p. 91 Practically all we know about Flavius Severianus comes from

Lactantius Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius (c. 250 – c. 325) was an early Christian author who became an advisor to Roman emperor, Constantine I, guiding his Christian religious policy in its initial stages of emergence, and a tutor to his son Cri ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Severianus, Flavius 313 deaths 4th-century Romans Flavius Severianus Flavii Valerii People executed by the Roman Empire Executed ancient Roman people Tetrarchy Sons of Roman emperors