# Publius Septimius Geta (brother of Septimius Severus)

Publius Septimius Geta (c. 143 - c. 203/c. 204) was the second son to the elder Publius Septimius Geta and brother of the emperor Septimius Severus. His mother was Fulvia Pia. He was born and raised in Leptis Magna (southeast of Carthage, modern Libya, North Africa). He had Italian Roman ancestry on his mother's side, and was descended from Punic forebears on his father's side.
This Geta was more politically active than his father. Geta was appointed one of the decemviri stlitibus judicandis, which in part involved judging lawsuits. These ten men were one of the four boards that form the vigintiviri; membership in one of these four boards was a preliminary and required first step toward a gaining entry into the Roman Senate. After this Geta was commissioned a tribunus laticlavius with the Legio II Augusta, at the time stationed in Roman Britain. This was followed by the office of aedile cerealis, a Curator rei pub. Anconitanorum and a Praet. hastarius et tutel. Geta in 185 became legatus legionis or commander of Legio I Italica and afterwards a Proconsul of Sicily around 187/8. Between circa 188 and circa 190, he became legatus of Lusitania. He was suffect consul in or around 191.
After his suffect consulship, between 193 and 194, he became Legatus of Moesia Inferior. When Severus was proclaimed emperor in 193, Geta led the legions to Carnuntum, where his brother was, to show his support. He is attested as being the Legatus for Tres Daciae in 195. Geta was appointed as Quaestor and Praetor of Crete and Cyrenaica and became one of the Consuls in 203. Geta died around 203 or 204. On his deathbed, Geta stated to Severus that he hated the Praetorian Prefect, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, and warned him of Plautianus' treachery.

## Severan family tree

vteSeveran family tree :
Septimius Macer
Gaius Claudius Septimius AperFulvius PiusLucius Septimius Severus
Publius Septimius AperGaius Septimius AperFulvia PiaPublius Septimius GetaSeptimia PollaJulius Bassianus
SeptimiusPublius Septimius GetaSeptimia OctavillaPaccia Marciana (1)Septimius Severus (r.  193–211)Julia Domna (2)Julia MaesaGaius Julius Avitus Alexianus
Gaius Septimius Severus AperFulvia PlautillaCaracalla (r.  197–217)Geta (r.  209–211)Julia SoaemiasSextus Varius MarcellusJulia Avita MamaeaUnknown (2)
Julia Cornelia Paula (1)Aquilia Severa (2 and 4)Elagabalus (r.  218–222)Annia Faustina (3)Sallustia OrbianaSeverus Alexander (r.  222–235) :
(1) = 1st spouse
(2) = 2nd spouse
(3) = 3rd spouse
(4) = 4th spouse
Dark green indicates an emperor of the Severan dynasty
Notes:
Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
↑ Birley, Anthony R. (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor. London: Routledge. p. i.
↑ Burrell, Barbara (2004). Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors. BRILL. p. 216. ISBN 90-04-12578-7.
↑ Burrell, Barbara (2004). Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors. BRILL. p. 247. ISBN 90-04-12578-7.
↑ Icks, Martijn (2011). The Crimes of Elagabalus: The Life and Legacy of Rome's Decadent Boy Emperor. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-1-84885-362-1.
1 2 Gibbon, Edward; Smith, William (1889). The Student's Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. pp. 45–47.
Bibliography:
Birley, Anthony R. (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415165911.
Gibbon, Edward; Smith, William (1889). The Student's Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. London: Murray. OCLC 993285639. :