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In 196 AD Caesar Clodius Albinus former "ally" of Emperor Septimius Severus (he had helped him secure the Purple in 193 following the anarchy after Didius Julianus murder) and virtual ruler of the Western part of the Empire rebelled against Septimius Severus in Britain... With the help of 3 British Legions and one Spanish he marched against Rome... Severus who had just defeated the usurper Pescennius Niger in Asia Minor and Syria turned against him too...
Albinus easily defeated Severus's Legate Virius Lupus in Gaul thus claiming all Gaulish resources...
In February 197 AD Albinus and Severus armies clashed near Lugdunum and the battle lasted for 2 days (it was weird because at these era battles didnt last a few hours at most...) but because the 2 armies were equal the tide shifted many times during the course of the battle, with the outcome hanging in the balance. It seems Severus had the edge in cavalry which swung the battle in his favor for the final time. Exhausted and bloodied, Albinus' army was crushed.
WI both armies exhausted from the 2-day battle negotiated a mutual retreat? Or even Severus agrees to split the Empire between him and Albinus (Severus gets the East and Albinus the West...)
Could this have lead to an early split of the Empire or even a primitive Tetrarchy form?
Any thoughts?