Pescennius Niger (c. 140–194) was a Roman usurper in the Eastern Roman Empire from 193 to 194. The name "Niger" means "black," contrasting him with one of his rivals for the throne, Albinus, whose name means "white."

Niger was a governor of Syria who was proclaimed emperor by the eastern legions after the murder of Pertinax and the auctioning off of the imperial title to Didius Julianus. Among the provinces that fell under his direct control was Egypt, and he also enjoyed support from the government of Asia. Although these lands contained great wealth, another rebel general, Septimius Severus, succeeding in taking Rome first, and he then marched east to confront Niger. Niger was defeated at Cyzicus and Nicea (193) and then, definitively, at Issus; forced to retreat to Antioch, Niger was killed while attempting to flee to Parthia.

References

• Southern, Pat. The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. London and New York: Routledge, 2001.

External links

Primary sources

• Historia Augusta: Life of Pescennius Niger

Secondary material

• Pescennius Niger at Livius.Org

140s births | 194 deaths | Roman usurpers

Pescennius Niger | Pescennius Niger | Peszenio Niger | Pescennius Niger | Pescennio Nigro | Pescennius Niger | Pescennius Niger | Pescenniusz Niger | Песценний Нигер | Pescennius Niger | Pescennius Niger