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EPISODE · Jan 5, 2026 · 56 MIN

Simon Elliott

from My Life In Books with Red Szell · host Accessible Media Inc.

Septimius Severus was Rome’s Black emperor. Born in the blistering heat of what is now Libya, in 145 A.D., he died in the freezing cold of a British winter 66 years later. Now, in a groundbreaking new biography, The African Emperor, British historian Simon Elliott, examines the life and legacy of one of the greatest warrior emperors in history.The ruler of the Roman Empire when it was at the peak of its power, Severus visited, and fought in, every region of its vast territory, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the form of buildings such as Rome’s Forum Romanum, and the land walls that still define The City of London’s Square Mile.The portrait that emerges is of a ruthless man of action whose attitude is reflected in his deathbed advice to his two sons: ‘Be of one mind with your family, enrich the soldiers, and despise the rest.’Join Simon and Red as they explore the extraordinary life and legacy of this most overlooked of Roman Emperors. About AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Septimius Severus was Rome’s Black emperor. Born in the blistering heat of what is now Libya, in 145 A.D., he died in the freezing cold of a British winter 66 years later. Now, in a groundbreaking new biography, The African Emperor, British historian Simon Elliott, examines the life and legacy of one of the greatest warrior emperors in history. The ruler of the Roman Empire when it was at the peak of its power, Severus visited, and fought in, every region of its vast territory, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the form of buildings such as Rome’s Forum Romanum, and the land walls that still define The City of London’s Square Mile. The portrait that emerges is of a ruthless man of action whose attitude is reflected in his deathbed advice to his two sons: ‘Be of one mind with your family, enrich the soldiers, and despise the rest.’ Join Simon and Red as they explore the extraordinary life and legacy of this most overlooked of Roman Emperors.

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Simon Elliott

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