Persons who should be on Chocolate Frog Cards

[Caius Marcius]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "alshainofthenorth" 
<alshainofthenorth at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "pengolodh_sc"
> <pengolodh_sc at y...> wrote:
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Another Chocolate Frog Card should go to the Roman Emperor Septimius 
Severus (146 – 211 AD – reigned as Emperor from 193-211). You can 
find an account of his life in The Historia Augusta of the late 4th 
Century AD

http://www.richmond.edu/~wstevens/history331texts/severus.html

Despite his delightfully Potions Prof-ish name, Severus earns his 
card for being one of Trelawney's ancestors. He was a strong believer 
in astrology, divination and dream forecasting. 

According The Historia Augusta, as a young soldier of low rank, he 
met with an astrologer. When his horoscope had been cast, the 
astrologer saw that he was going to gain wealth and power of a 
magnitude that was far beyond what a mere soldier might think to 
achieve.  The astrologer was moved to cry, "Give me your own 
horoscope not another man's." Severus swore that it was his, and the 
man foretold everything that afterwards came to pass. Severus after 
that concealed the date and place of his birth, lest any 
astrologically sophisticated rival realize the threat that he would 
pose.  

After the death of his first wife, when he was searching for another 
bride, he examined their horoscopes to determine who would make the 
most suitable match. 

During the reign of Commodus (you know, that guy who killed his 
father Albus Dumbledore, and then threw Russell Crowe in the arena in 
the Gladiator movie), Severus was put on trial for "consulting 
astrologers about the imperial position. The prefects of the guard 
who were assigned to hear his case acquitted him - Commodus was 
already becoming hated - and the false accuser was crucified." 
(Later, as Emperor, Severus returned the favor by condemning to death 
anyone who consulted an astrologer about  his health – I would 
imagine he "networked" with his fellow astrologers to find out about 
this – or maybe he just used Extendible Ears)  

He become Emperor on 193, following one of the more scandalous 
episodes in imperial Roman history (and that's saying something). 
After a group of Roman Praetorium guards assassinated the Emperor 
Pertinax (Commodus' successor), they put the imperial throne up for 
auction to the highest bidder. A wealthy businessman Didius Julianus 
was the winner. This provoked such outrage that no fewer than three 
military leaders (including Severus, who was stationed in Germany) 
moved on Rome to win for themselves the power so corruptly gained 
byJulianus. Severus, who got their first, had Julianus executed 
(three months after his reign began) and then spent a year beating 
back his rival claimants 
Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus 

As emperor, Severus remained intently interested in magic. He had his 
horoscope painted on the ceiling of the Imperial Palace in Rome to 
remind him of his cosmic destiny, but blanked out certain details (so 
no one could predict his death). According to Jasper Burns:

http://www.cstone.net/~jburns/gascara.html

"Severus was also intensely interested in all forms of secret lore 
and magic. He confiscated secret books from temples during his 
travels through the Empire and outlawed divination and magic in Egypt 
before he would venture to go there. Given Severus's well-documented 
fascination with the occult, his actions seem to have been 
precautionary - if magic powers existed, he preferred to be the one 
who controlled them."

He headed his final military campaign in the year 208, and spent the 
last three years of his life mostly around Hadrian's Wall inon the 
borders of Scotland.  He died near present-day York in 211. His son 
(and successor) Caracalla accompanied him to Britian, so who knows, 
maybe our Severus is the long-lost Heir to Septimius?

Check out this coin, designed to honor Severus' interest in astrology

http://dougsmith.ancients.info/mintsyr5.html

    - CMC