Book 80(80): Severus Alexander

This book provides a brief introduction to the beginning of the reign of Severus Alexander and commentary on this final small portion of Dio’s history. Although several sources, including the Historia Augusta, call Severus Alexander’s reign a return to a golden age, Dio saw it as the completion of an age of “iron and rust.” Dio’s narrative of Severus Alexander’s reign is slight, and more of Dio’s place in posterity emerges than ever before, in his dual role of historian and politician. Dio’s political life lasted from the reign of Commodus through that of Severus Alexander; unpopularity with soldiers and his illness forced his retirement. He chose, for reasons that are not entirely clear, to end his account of over a thousand years of Roman history at this point.