Septimius Geta

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There were two people who had the name Publius Septimius Geta. One was the father of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and the other was his brother.

1 Father of Septimius Severus
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3 Brother of Septimius Severus
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[edit] Father of Septimius Severus

Publius Septimius Geta (flourished second century) was the father of Lucius Septimius Severus, father-in-law of the Roman empress Julia Domna and the paternal grandfather of Roman emperors Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta. His name was found as an inscription in Cirta, Africa.

Geta was of Libyco-Punic origin. His ancestry had been based in Leptis Magna (southeast of Carthage, modern Libya, North Africa). His family were local, wealthy and distinguished in Leptis Magna.

Geta’s paternal grandfather Septimius Macer, for a time lived in Rome and became apart of the Equestrian (Roman) rank. Geta’s father Lucius Septimius Severus, was the wealthy equestrian that is highly commemorated by the Flavian dynasty poet Statius.

Geta had two cousins, who served as consuls under Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. One was his paternal cousin, Gaius Septimius Severus. Geta's father had a brother, who the father of his paternal cousin. He was consul in 160 and was a governor of Numidia in 173-174 and then in 177. The other cousin was called Aper, who served as consul at an unknown year in the reign of Antoninus Pius.

Not much is known on Geta and his family. He seems to have held no major political status. Geta married Fulvia Pia, a daughter of Fulvius Pius. She was an African woman, who was of Roman descent. Her family moved from Italy to North Africa and was of the Fulvius gens, an ancient and politically influential clan, who originally was of plebs status. She was allegedly the paternal aunt of the Praetorian Guard and consul Gaius Fulvius Plautianus^{[citation needed]}; however, his name indicates that he was born into a different gens and was adopted into the gens Fulvia.

Geta and Pia had three children, a son Lucius Septimius Severus 11 April 146-4 February 211, another son a younger Publius Septimius Geta and a daughter Septimia Pia. Not much is known on Septimia Pia, apart from that she spoke Latin that bad, that embarrassed Severus enough to send her back to Leptis Magna.

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[edit] Brother of Septimius Severus

Publius Septimius Geta (?-around 204) was the second son to the elder Publius Septimius Geta and Fulvia Pia. He was born and raised in Leptis Magna (southeast of Carthage, modern Libya, North Africa). He was of Libyco-Punic and Roman ancestry.

This Geta was more politically active than his father. Geta was appointed as a Decemviri which in part involved judging of litigation (stlitibus iudicandis). He became a tribune of the Legio II Augusta and an Aedile. Geta in 185 became a Legatus of the Legio I Italica and afterwards a proconsul of Sicily around 187/8. In 188, he became Legatus of Lusitania. He was suffect consul in 191.

After his suffect consulship, he became Legatus of Moesia. When Severus was proclaim emperor in 193, he headed with the legions to Carnuntum, where his brother was, to show his support. When his Legatus finished in Moesia, he became the Legatus for Dacia. Geta was appointed as quaestor and praetor of Crete and Cyrene and became one of the consuls in 203. Geta died around 204. Before his death, Geta stated to Severus, that he hated Praetorian Guard Gaius Fulvius Plautianus and warned him of Plautianus’ treachery.