It’s hard to believe that the armies of Severus were right in their math. When Octavian forced the senate to give him the consulship, he would have had Mark Anthony’s men as well as his own behind him. That would give him at least 5 legions. The legion at that time was about 5000 men. 8 years wages for 25,000 men is a staggering sum. It is not out of the question though, as Octavian now had Caesar’s legacy which was vast indeed. How much for the world?

Septimius understood where the real power of Rome was in his time. Too bad poor Alexander Severus didn’t listen to the last words of Septimius, “ It’s the army, stupid !”.