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Knowing the sloth of the Emperor Julian, he persuaded the army in

Sclavonia, of which he was captain, that it would be right to go

to Rome and avenge the death of Pertinax, who had been killed by

the praetorian soldiers; and under this pretext, without

appearing to aspire to the throne, he moved the army on Rome, and

reached Italy before it was known that he had started. On his

arrival at Rome, the Senate, through fear, elected him emperor

and killed Julian. After this there remained for Severus, who

wished to make himself master of the whole empire, two

difficulties; one in Asia, where Niger, head of the Asiatic army,

had caused himself to be proclaimed emperor; the other in the

west where Albinus was, who also aspired to the throne. And as he

considered it dangerous to declare himself hostile to both, he

decided to attack Niger and to deceive Albinus.