2020-02-19 Wed

Today on 19th February in the year 197, the bloodiest Battle of Lugdunum also known as the Battle of Lyon was fought between the armies of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and of the Roman usurper Clodius Albinus.

This battle is said to be the largest, most hard-fought, and bloodiest of all clashes between Roman forces. With an army of about 75,000 men, mostly composed of Pannonian, Moesian, and Dacian legions and a large number of auxiliaries, Severus defeated and killed Clodius Albinus. Severus' victory finally established him as the sole emperor of the Roman Empire.

Dynastic aureus of Septimius Severus minted in 201 from Rome. The obverse of a coin depicts the draped bust of Julia Domna facing. The reverse feature the portraits of Julia Domna facing (in the center), confronting busts of Caracalla (on left), laureate, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind, and Geta (on right), bareheaded, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions