[Born at Adrumetum, in Africa. Date not known. Died at Lugdunum
(Lyons), in Gaul, A.D. 197.]
Entered the army at an early age, and served with distinction under
Marcus Aurelius. Held a command in Gaul, and afterwards in Britain,
under Commodus. After the murder of Pertinax, the successor of Commodus,
Clodius was proclaimed Emperor in Britain by the British legions, and
shared the purple with Septimius Severus. Subsequently discarded by
Severus, he put himself at the head of his legions, and met his
colleague in battle at Lugdunum, in Gaul, where he fell. He was of great
beauty and strength, and was called by his father “Albinus,” on account
of the great whiteness of his skin. A skilful general, but severe:
styled by some, the “Catiline” of his time.
[From the gallery of the Emperors, in the Capitoline Museum, at Rome.]