The auction of the throne yielded 26,500 sesterces

The year 193 AD, which went down in the history of the Roman Empire as the second year of the Four Emperors, began with a murder. Emperor Commodus, who had long since burned all ties with the Senate aristocracy and was trying to transform the rule of the "First Citizen" into an autocratic regime, had not kept a list of chosen victims of new executions with sufficient discretion. When his mistress Marcia and the praetorian prefect Laetus also discovered their names on it, they decided to forestall the emperor and won a gladiator to murder Commodus with a rope in the bath. That happened on the night of January 1, 193.

In order to pacify the Praetorian Guards, which had enjoyed considerable freedom under Commodus, the conspirators sought to present a new emperor without delay. Senator Publius Helvius Pertinax was chosen, not because he was a powerful ally, but because he was the highest-ranking available candidate.

The son of a freedman, who had made his fortune from the wool trade, could refer to high command in the army and provincial administration and in 192 had occupied the regular consulate together with the emperor. Pertinax initially rejected the delicate offer, citing his unstable health, but was persuaded by the numerous senators who supported the proclamation.

Only the Praetorians kept their distance. At first they reluctantly agreed with their commander's personnel decision. But when Pertinax found himself unable to pay them the usual special bonus because of the empty coffers, things continued to ferment in the troupe. The attempt to elevate a rival to the counter-emperor failed and cost the lives of some guardsmen.

But then about 200 soldiers ganged up and stormed the palace. Pertinax bravely confronted them and almost brought them to their senses. But one of the rebels leapt forward, saying, "The soldiers sent you this sword!" After 87 days on the throne, the emperor lost his head and purple.

The Roman historian Cassius Dio described in detail what followed on March 28, 193. Because as a young senator - Pertinax had designated him for the office of praetor - he was apparently a witness to the "most disgraceful, most dishonoring appearance for Rome": the praetorians held a veritable auction in which the price of the throne increased to exorbitant sums.

Two bidders appeared. One was Titus Flavius Sulpicianus, Pertinax's father-in-law, who held the office of city prefect and had been sent by the emperor to the praetorian barracks with orders to put an end to the rebellion. The other was called Didius Iulianus. Like Pertinax, he had made a career in the army and administration, but in contrast to that, he came from a respected family that was probably wealthy around Milan. As a former governor of the province of Africa Proconsularis, he held one of the most prestigious offices the Empire had to offer.

He was "of the worst character", "who on the one hand scraped together money in every way and then drove the most excessive waste, a restless person from time immemorial", Cassius Dio gives him a devastating testimony. Immediate rushed to the Praetorians' camp, but did not get inside, instead raising the price from outside.

"As in the market or in the department store, the capital and the whole empire were offered for sale in one go," writes Cassius Dio. "Sellers were the emperor's murderers, buyers were the lovers Sulpicianus and Iulianus, who outbid each other... Gradually their bids rose to 5,000 drachmas per man (around 20,000 sesterces)."

Sulpicianus would have almost won if Julianus hadn't suddenly increased by 1250 drachmas. His supposition to the Praetorian negotiators that Sulpicianus, as emperor, would call the murderers of his son-in-law to account, probably went some way to securing Julianus the bid. 26,500 sesterces for each praetorian, that was the price of the empire. For comparison: a simple father could be happy if he earned four sesterces a day.

The Senate grudgingly gave its assent, surely helped by the soldiers Julianus had used to surround the Chamber. The new emperor then moved into the palace, where the headless corpse of his predecessor was still lying, enjoyed the supper that had been served, “and played dice with the pantomime Pylades and other table companions”.

Although Julianus immediately had coins minted presenting him as the "ruler of the world", his future soon began to cloud over. In April, the governor Septimius Severus had his troops proclaim himself emperor in Carnuntum on the Danube. He was joined by the other commanders on the Rhine and Danube. The governor of Britain also followed, but was assured of the title of Caesar. With that, Severus controlled 20 legions, two-thirds of the empire's military might. Shortly thereafter, the governor of Syria, Gaius Pescennius Niger, also threw his hat into the ring.

Since Julianus only had the naval troops stationed in Italy at his disposal, apart from almost 10,000 Praetorians, he sent experienced assassins to meet his rivals, who were supposed to solve the problem in their own way. Vain. Without problems, Severus was able to overcome the Alpine passes and advance to northern Italy, where a Praetorian general opened the naval arsenal of Ravenna to him without a fight.

Julianus' desperate attempt to stop Severus by making him co-ruler was resisted by the Senate. In it, the incumbent consul raised charges against the emperor, which ended with the death sentence and the damnatio memoriae (damnation of memory). "Lying on the couch in the palace, Iulianus was killed," writes Cassius Dio. His last words were, "What have I done wrong? Whom have I killed?” He had reigned a full 66 days.

Severus was awarded the imperial, Pertinax the divine dignity. The new Emperor granted the Praetorians the promised pardon, but disbanded them as a unit and replaced them with his own veterans. His subsequent victory over Gaius Pescennius Niger made Septimius the founder of a dynasty that would eventually have five emperors.

You can also find "World History" on Facebook. We are happy about a like.