Pescennius Niger

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Pescennius Niger
Usurper of the Roman Empire

Coin of Pescennius Niger
Reign	193 - 194
Born	c. 140
Died	194
Predecessor	Didius Julianus
Successor	Septimius Severus
Dynasty	None

Pescennius Niger (c. 140–194) was a Roman usurper from 193 to 194. The name "Niger" means "black", contrasting him with one of his rivals for the throne, Clodius Albinus, whose name means "white". Pescennius Niger, However was also black in regards to skin. This is recorded in the history of Cassius Dio book 75.

Niger was a governor of Syria who was proclaimed emperor by the eastern legions after the murder of Pertinax and the auctioning off of the imperial title to Didius Julianus. Among the provinces that fell under his direct control was Aegyptus, and he also enjoyed support from the government of Asia. Although these lands contained great wealth, another rebel general, Septimius Severus, succeeding in taking Rome first, and he then marched east to confront Niger. Niger was defeated at Cyzicus and Nicea (193) and then, definitively, at Issus (194); forced to retreat to Antioch, Niger was killed while attempting to flee to Parthia.

1 References
- 1.1 Primary sources
- 1.2 Secondary material
2 External links

[edit] References

Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. London and New York: Routledge, 2001.

[edit] Primary sources

[edit] Secondary material

Pescennius Niger at Livius.Org

[edit] External links

Image:Commons-logo.svg Media on Pescennius Niger in the Wikicommons.

Preceded by: Didius Julianus;	Year of the Five Emperors 193 in competition with Septimius Severus and Clodius Albinus	Succeeded by: Septimus Severus