Ancient Roman history is typically taught in school to include Julius Caesar, Nero, Marc Antony, and Caligula. And Hollywood’s stories aren’t much better. Here’s what history has to say about African-born Roman emperors.
The first and most well-known was Septimius Severus. Born in present-day Libya, he increased the size of the empire so much that he died on current U.K. soil.
Clodius Albinus was born in what is now modern-day Tunisia. A mighty political figure, he was declared emperor by the military. However, his reign would be devastatingly short. Albinus died on the battlefield, against Severus’s army.
A reputable and skilled lawyer from Algeria, Marcus Opellius Macrinus, was the only emperor who didn’t come from royalty. Aemilianus came from a small island off the coast of Tunisia. He fought for peace, but ambitions for the crown overtook him. He reigned in the seat of Rome until his military overthrew him.
A reputable and skilled lawyer from Algeria, Marcus Opellius Macrinus, was the only emperor who didn’t come from royalty. Aemilianus came from a small island off the coast of Tunisia. He fought for peace, but ambitions for the crown overtook him. He reigned in the seat of Rome until his military overthrew him.