The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

[Born at Lyons in France, A.D. 188. Died in Mesopotamia, A.D. 217. Aged 29.] In early life remarkable for gentle and pleasing address; but on the death of his father, Septimius Severus, he assassinated his brother Geta, who was left, with himself, joint heir to the throne. Other crimes were added, and, conscience-stricken, he soon gave rein to the passions of a madman. He oppressed his citizens by extortionate taxation, and plundered the world for the means of paying for his soldiers and his amusements. He, however, erected some great monuments in Rome. He was assassinated in Mesopotamia by order of Macrinus, his chief officer. [All busts of him show the peculiar deformed turn of the neck with which he was afflicted.]