Knowing the sloth of the Emperor Julian, he persuaded the army in Sclavonia, of which he was captain, that it would be right to go to Rome and avenge the death of Pertinax, who had been killed by the praetorian soldiers; and under this pretext, without appearing to aspire to the throne, he moved the army on Rome, and reached Italy before it was known that he had started.
Conosciuto Severo la ignavia di Iuliano imperatore, persuase al suo esercito, del quale era in Stiavonia capitano, che elli era bene andare a Roma a vendicare la morte di Pertinace, il quale da' soldati pretoriani era suto morto; e sotto questo colore, sanza monstrare di aspirare allo imperio, mosse lo esercito contro a Roma; e fu prima in Italia che si sapessi la sua partita.