africa is a continent full of legends men and women who have greatly impacted the course of
history kings and queens scientists historians and many who have pleased africa at the cradle
of civilization welcome to the legends of africa series where we take a look into the rich and
amazing world of our past through the lives of great men and women who we consider today
our legends before we get into today's video be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell
in today's video we look at one of the most powerful roman emperors to have ever lived
now i'm sure you have already created an image in your head about how he may have looked
perhaps a white man with blonde hair with a lot of suntan
well if that's the case you are wrong emperor septima savas was the first african emperor and
an african emperor historians have tried very hard to hide from you
septimius savas was born on april 11th in the year 145 a.d in tripolitania now known as libya
he came from a wealthy and distinguished background his father an obscure provincial
ruler held no major political status but he had two cousins pablo septimius and gaia septimus
who served as consuls under the emperor antonia's pews
if you aren't familiar with the term consul it is an official appointed by a state to live in
a foreign city and protect the state's citizens and interests something like today's ambassadors
septimus servers was educated in latin and greek and learned to speak very well and was afforded
the best education one could get at the time his first trip to rome was in the year 162 a.d
where he sought a career in public service once there he quickly rose up the ranks but his great
break came when his cousin gaia septimus was appointed pro console of the african province
he eventually was made console a position of the highest owner in the year 190 a.d
even though it seems that all he was occupied with was work and rising up the ranks
his love life was also flourishing in the year 175 a.d he married his first wife pasha martiana who
died 11 years later then while serving as governor of gaul in the year 187 a.d he married julia domna
who would have two sons with him life seemed to be going great for him and he was even promoted
to console of the region of apapanonya what is now known as germany and austria
shortly after this his cousin gaia septimus was murdered a year later
his successor pablus halvia's pertinax was also murdered at the hands of his bodyguards
who then sold the title to the highest bidder the roman people did not appreciate this
time of events mostly because they had an emperor who ruled them simply out of greed
the locals became so angry and demanded for a better leader september servers rose to
the occasion he had a distinct advantage over the other rulers due to his proximity
of his province to rome he took immediate action to secure his hold over the title of emperor he
started by promising his competition the title of caesar and then he declared his wife empress
as a leader septimus service was determined to improve the life of his people he expanded on
building projects or to provide opportunities to feed the poor and the hungry and in the city
of libya he expanded on infrastructure adding a harbor forum and new streets he was very popular
with the roman soldiers as he regularly promoted them he was also the first emperor to station
some of the imperial army in italy he realized that rome needed a military central reserve with
the capacity to be sent anywhere in the year 193 a.d his soldiers proclaimed him emperor
septimius server's reign was cut short when he fell ill in the year of 2011 a.d
he was then succeeded by his sons who were advised by his wife julia domna
but there's a problem his statue fails to show his dark color of skin his tight hair curls and
his african features perhaps in a way to hide the fact that he was an of african heritage who knows
it's also unfortunate that this is not taught in schools when we are being taught about the mighty
roman empire it is rarely mentioned that one of the greatest roman emperors was an african man
why do you think this is so why try to bury a great man just because it doesn't fit some
society's white supremacy tendencies let us discuss in the comments below
thank you for watching if you haven't subscribed yet please do so and hit the notification bell
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it a thumbs up also make sure to watch our other videos which celebrate our mama africa
it's been me linda from tuna travel be sure to check out my youtube channel
until the next video stay safe and i'll see you then and remember africa is watching