The Praetorian Guard Auctions the Empire — Crisis of 193 CE
The reign of Commodus ended on New Year's Eve 192 CE when a wrestler strangled him in his bath on the orders of his own household. The conspirators elevated the respected senator Publius Helvius Pertinax to the throne. Pertinax was competent and honest — and therefore unacceptable to the Praetorian Guard, whose privileges he moved immediately to curtail. On 28 March 193 CE a band of Praetorians stormed the palace and killed Pertinax. The Praetorians then withdrew to their barracks and announced from the walls that the empire was for sale. Two bidders competed from below the walls: the father-in-law of the previous emperor, Sulpicianus, and the wealthy senator Didius Julianus, who had been dragged from a dinner party. Julianus outbid Sulpicianus at 25,000 sesterces per guardsman. The gates opened; the Praetorians proclaimed him emperor. But three frontier generals immediately refused to accept the result. Septimius Severus on the Danube was closest to Rome. He marched with remarkable speed. The Praetorian Guard, recognising they could not resist, arranged Julianus's execution after a reign of 66 days. Severus then disbanded and reformed the entire Guard.
- Year: 193 CE
- Category: Political
