2021-02-19 Fri

Decimus Clodius Albinus was a Roman general, senator and usurper who claimed the imperial title several times between 193 and 197. He was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain and Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal) after the murder of Pertinax in 193 (known as the "Year of the Five Emperors"), and proclaimed himself emperor again in 196, before his final defeat the following year.

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.

Depicted here is a gold Aureus issued under his reign from Rome mint. The obverse of a coin depicts the bare-headed bust right, slight drapery on the left shoulder. The reverse of a coin represents Saeculum Frugiferum, radiate, standing left, holding caduceus and grain ears in the extended right hand and cradling hayfork in the left arm.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org