Boek 3, 14-15

14 Severus was becoming disturbed by the lifestyle of his sons and their unseemly enthusiasm for public spectacles, when the Governor of Britain sent word to him that the barbarians were in revolt and that they were overrunning the country, looting it and causing widespread havoc. He therefore requested additional forces to protect the place or a visitation by the Emperor. Severus was pleased to hear this, for besides being a natural lover of glory, he wanted to raise some victory-trophies at the expense of the Britons to add to the victories and titles won in the east and north. Then again, he wanted to get his sons away from Rome so that they might come to their senses amidst the disciplined life of the army, once they were away from the luxury and high life of Rome. For this reason he announced the expedition to Britain, even though he was by now an old man and suffering from gout. When it came to enthusiasm, however, he had more spirit than any young man. Most of the travelling he did being carried in a litter, but he never stopped to rest for any length of time, and he completed the journey in the company of his sons sooner than expected and faster than news of him could spread. Crossing Ocean Severus set foot in Britain. There he mustered troops from all parts, and having raised a powerful army, he made ready for the war. Alarmed by the unexpected arrival of the Emperor and hearing about the vast force that had been assembled against them, the Britons sent envoys to discuss peace terms and wished to explain away their past misdeeds. Severus, however, wanted to prolong matters so as to avoid a speedy return to Rome and also to secure a victory and title at the Britons’ expense. He therefore dismissed their envoys empty-handed and made ready for the war. In particular he attempted to divide up the marshy areas with causeways (or bridges) so that advancing in safety his troops could effect an easy and rapid passage of these regions and fight from a firm and steady base.
Most of (northern) Britain is marshy since it is constantly washed by the ocean tides. The barbarians are accustomed to swim in these marshes or to run through them with the water up to their waists. For the most part they are naked and think nothing of getting mud on themselves. Also, being unfamiliar with the use of clothing, they adorn their waists and necks with iron, considering this an ornament and a sign of wealth, just as other barbarians do gold. They tattoo their bodies with various designs and pictures of all kinds of animals. This is the reason they do not wear clothes: so as not to cover up the designs on their bodies. They are extremely warlike and blood- thirsty, though their armament consists simply of a narrow shield, a spear, and a sword that hangs beside their naked bodies. They are unfamiliar with the use of breastplates or helmets, considering them a hindrance in crossing the marshes. From these thick mists rise and cause the atmosphere in that region always to have a gloomy appearance.
Against this background, therefore, Severus got ready everything likely to be of use to the Roman army and to damage or impede the attacks of the barbarians. When it seemed that sufficient preparations for the war had been made, he left Geta, the younger of his sons, in that part of the province under Roman control, to dispense justice and to carry on the civil administration of the empire. To this end he provided him with a council made up of his older friends. Antoninus (Caracalla) he took with him and he pressed on against the barbarians. Once the army had crossed the rivers and earthworks on the frontier of the Roman empire, there were frequent encounters and skirmishes with the enemy in which they were put to flight. However, it was easy for them to escape and to disappear into the woods and marshes because of their knowledge of the terrain, but all this hampered the Romans and dragged out the war considerably.

15 Severus was now afflicted in his old age by a more prolonged illness, and as a result was forced to remain in his quarters. He attempted to send Antoninus out to direct the campaign, but Antoninus had little interest in the action against the barbarians, and was trying instead to win over the army. He began to persuade the troops to look to him alone for orders, and canvassed for the position of sole ruler in every way he could, making slanderous attacks against his brother. His father, who had been ill for a long time and was taking his time dying, he regarded as a troublesome nuisance, and he tried to persuade the doctors and attendants to do the old man some injury as they treated him, so that he might be rid of him all the sooner. Eventually, however, worn out for the most part by grief, Severus passed away after a life more distinguished in military terms than any previous emperor. No one before him had won so many victories either in civil wars against rivals or in foreign wars against barbarians. After a reign of eighteen years he made way for his young sons to succeed, leaving them greater wealth than anyone before and an irresistible army.