Increasing friction between Severus and his rival-turned-heir Clodius Albinus had culminated in the latter’s reiterating his imperial claim.

Albinus had crossed with his legions to Gaul in early 195 and settled with his army near Lugdunum, where he has had himself proclaimed Augustus and makes plans to counter Severus.

Under his control, the Lugdunum mint issues coins celebrating his "clemency", as well as one dedicated to the "Genius of Lugdunum."

He is joined by an army under Lucius Novius Rufus, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis.

They successfully attack the German troops of Virius Lupus, Legatus of one of the German provinces, but were unable to deter them from supporting Severus.

Virius Lupus, who would have served as consul some time previously, becomes Governor or Legatus of Britannia once Severus is made emperor in 197.

Severus sends him to Britain immediately to recover the province from the rebellions that had swept it following Clodius Albinus' removal of most of the garrison to press his claim for the throne the previous year.

Severus soon purges Albinus' sympathizers and perhaps confiscates large tracts of land in Britain as punishment for their loyalty to his slain rival.

In the north, Lupus is obliged to buy peace from the Maeatae, a tribal confederation that appears to have come together as a result of treaties struck between the Roman Empire and the various frontier tribes in the 180s CE under the governorship of Ulpius Marcellus.

Fearful that they will ally with the Caledonian Confederacy and unable to secure troop reinforcements from Severus, Lupus has no choice but to pay the rebels in return for their withdrawal and the return of a few prisoners.

Lupus slowly restores the forts in the Pennines to Roman control although Hadrian's Wall will not be rebuilt until around 205.

His governorship is assisted by the arrival of Sextus Varius Marcellus as provincial procurator and in who can be seen the germ of the later division of Britain into two provinces.