Lucius Septimius Severus restored stability to the Roman empire after the tumultuous reign of the emperor Commodus and the civil wars that erupted in the wake of Commodus' murder. However, by giving greater pay and benefits to soldiers and annexing the troublesome lands of northern Mesopotamia into the Roman empire, Septimius Severus brought increasing financial and military burdens to Rome's government. His prudent administration allowed these burdens to be met during his eighteen years on the throne, but his reign was not entirely sunny. The bloodiness with which Severus gained and maintained control of the empire tarnished his generally positive reputation.
His sons Caracalla and Geta hated each other--he left the throne to both of them, but about a year later Caracalla had his brother killed right in front of their mother.
Septimius Severus made an effort to conquer all of Scotland for the Roman Empire, but then died at York. Constantius I, the father of Constantine the Great, also died at York.