He started his public career in the senatorial ranks

One of the interesting facts about Septimius Severus is that he started his public career in the senatorial ranks. The emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180) elevated him to the senatorial ranks on the recommendation of his relative Gaius Septimius Severus. Membership in the senatorial order was required for posts in the cursus honorum and admission to the Roman Senate. Nonetheless, it appears that Severus' career in the 160s was fraught with troubles.

He most likely worked as a vigintivir in Rome, supervising road maintenance in and around the city, and he may have appeared in court as an advocate. He was the State Attorney during Marcus Aurelius' reign. He excluded the military tribunate from the cursus honorum, however, and had to postpone his quaestorship until he attained the required minimum age of 25. To make matters worse, the Antonine Plague swept through the capital in 166.

Severus reached the required age to become a quaestor at the end of 169 and returned to Rome. On December 5, he took office and was formally admitted to the Roman Senate. Despite holding an astounding number of positions in fast succession between 170 and 180, his efforts went largely forgotten. The Antonine Plague had reduced the senatorial ranks, and with skilled men in scarce supply, Severus' career progressed more methodically than it might have otherwise.

The unexpected death of his father required him to return to Leptis Magna to settle family matters. Mauri tribesmen invaded southern Spain before he could leave Africa. The emperor was given control of the province, while the Senate was given temporary rule of Sardinia as reparation. As a result, Septimius Severus spent the rest of his second term as quaestor on the Italian island of Sardinia. Following the end of this tenure, Septimius Severus went to Rome and was appointed tribune of the plebs, a prestigious legislative position with the distinction of being the emperor's candidate.