Owner Comments:
Decisions, decisions...We all experience crossroads in our lives, where we refine our path, even if the path is to not choose, or even recognize the opportunity. While consequential for ourselves, our choices also impact others. The stakes were particularly high in the case of ancient Rome’s leaders, for their choices charted not only their own course, but that of an Empire.
As a case example, consider the life of Decimus Clodius Ceionius Albinus (150 – 197 AD). He was born in Hadrumetum, at the time one of most prominent cities in the Africa province. Albinus, who apparently earned his cognomen due to the extreme whiteness of his skin, from an early age demonstrated an aptitude for making good decisions on the battlefield. One of Albinus’ early achievements was quelling the rebellion of Avidius Cassius, who declared himself Emperor after being duped by false rumors of Augustus Marcus Aurelius’ death. Marcus – whose own Stoic philosophy was to embrace the choices that destiny has chosen for us – lauded Albinus decision-making as the tipping point for victory: “
…Albinus is worthy of all praise in that he kept to their allegiance troops that were seriously disaffected…had he not been on the spot, the defection would have been general.”
Albinus’ rise in prominence continued under the rule of Augustus Commodus, who successively bestowed him command over Gallia Belgica and Britannia. Some sources claim that Commodus offered the position of Caesar to Albinus, but the latter chose to decline at that time. Perhaps Albinus disapproved of Commodus, or perhaps he felt the timing inopportune. In any case, Albinus seized his chance later. After he received news of Commodus’ death, Albinus decided to publicly denounce Commodus’ tyranny and promulgated his own vision for restoring the Roman senate to its appropriate dignity and power. The problem, however, was that Albinus had fallen into the same trap as Avidius - the rumors were false! While Rome’s Senate concurred with Albinus proclamations, a displeased Commodus proceeded to send in Albinus’ replacement. As a testament to Albinus’ leadership and his troops’ loyalty, he nonetheless managed to hold on to his post.
Eventually, fate caught up with Commodus, who was murdered on New Year’s Eve 192 AD. The Senate chose as successor one of their own, the venerable Publius Helvius Pertinax. Albinus probably approved the posting since he made no move to seize power for himself at the time. There is the unlikely possibility that Albinus chose to work behind the scenes to facilitate the downfall of Pertinax, as claimed in the notoriously unreliable
Historia Augusta. Whether or not part of Albinus’ plot, Pertinax was slain three months later by his own Praetorian Guard, and the wealthy Didius Julianus bribed his way atop Rome’s throne.
Across the Empire, there were calls for regime change. The Syrian legions declared Gaius Pescennius Niger as Emperor, while the troops in Illyricum and Pannonia nominated Lucius Septimius Severus. Albinus may also have been promoted by his own troops. As he considered his future, another option presented itself, namely an offer letter to serve as Severus’ Caesar. Albinus found himself at another crossroad in his career, and this time he made the choice to accept the position. It is not clear whether he wished to truly side with Severus, or merely thought it expedient while waiting for resolution of his rivals’ rivalry. In any case, the post was official since by this time Julianus had been murdered, and Severus, who was the first contender to arrive in Rome, had been confirmed as successor by the Senate.
Albinus’ new position meant that he was featured on coinage struck in Rome, including this denarius dating from sometime in 194-195 AD. The obverse features the bare head of Albinus, with the epithet D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, declaring his new title and nomen. The reverse features the goddess Minerva, along with the epithet MINER PACIF COS II, denoting Minerva the peacemaker, and advertising Albinus’ role as consul for the second time as decreed by the Senate. Minerva, who was the Roman equivalent of Greek goddess Athena, was a multi-faceted deity representing wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. It is fascinating to note that unlike the violent god of war Mars, Minerva was a goddess of strategic war, consistent with Albinus’ strategy to keep peace with Severus. Contemporaneous coins of Severus’ also feature Minerva on their reverse, but in the guise of Minerva Victrix, the bringer of victory.
When this coin was struck, Severus was absent from Rome. The new Augustus was busy on the eastern frontier, first battling Niger, who was defeated in 194 AD, and then laying lengthy siege to the city of Byzantium, which fell in 196 AD. Over this period, Albinus stayed at his post, even though he had the chance to march on Rome wherein a friendly Senate grew increasingly fearful of Severus’ return. Perhaps Albinus felt some loyalty towards Severus. More likely, he kept expecting the Emperor’s luck to eventually run out, in which case as Caesar he would legally inherit the throne. Either way, Albinus missed a golden opportunity.
Having consolidated his power, Severus proceeded to appoint his own son Caracalla as Caesar. Clearly, the Augustus was not serious about taking Albinus under his wing. Reportedly, Severus even sent messengers to try and assassinate Albinus, who narrowly managed to escape.
At this point, Albinus had no choice but to accept his fate and prepare for direct conflict. After mustering his troops in Britannia, he crossed over to Gaul to meet with the oncoming army of Severus at Lugdunum. In all of Rome’s history of civil wars, the Battle of Lugdunum turned out to be the largest, most hard-fought, and bloodiest battle, and that’s saying something. According to reports, over a hundred thousand evenly numbered forces fought over two days, with severe casualties on both sides. The tide of the battle turned on several occasions. At one point, Severus was thrown from his horse, and the Augustus made the decision to cast off his imperial cloak to avoid being targeted while on the ground. The history of the Empire stood in the balance, but in the end, Severus, whose forces had the cavalry advantage, overwhelmed Albinus’ exhausted legions. The triumphant Emperor trod his horse upon Albinus’ corpse, decapitated it, dumped the body in the Rhône river, and sent the head to Rome as a warning.
We will never know how history might have turned out had Albinus been the victor at Lugdunum. Perhaps at the end, Albinus may have imagined such a future, as he reviewed his decisions defining his past. As for his final decision, whether he committed suicide or succumbed to inescapable capture and assassination, that choice remains unknown.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Clodius Albinus, As Caesar, AD 193-195, AR Denarius (18mm, 2.99 g, 12h), Rome mint, Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 194-195, NGC Grade: XF, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Bare head right, D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, Reverse: Minerva standing left, holding olive branch and shield set on ground; spear against left arm, MINER PACIF COS II, References: RIC IV 7; RSC 48; BMC 98.