Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus bought the Roman Empire at auction and held it for sixty-six days. Born around 133 to a distinguished family from Mediolanum, he was raised in the household of Domitia Lucilla, mother of Marcus Aurelius, and had a respectable senatorial career — aedile, praetor, command of a legion in Germany, governorships of Belgica, Dalmatia and Germania Inferior, and the consulship in 175. He was tried for conspiracy under Commodus and acquitted, and served as proconsul of Africa. On 28 March 193 the Praetorian Guard murdered the emperor Pertinax, who had reigned three months and had tried to restore discipline and pay them less than promised. The guard then announced that the empire would go to whoever bid highest. Two men bid: Titus Flavius Sulpicianus, the city prefect and Pertinax's father-in-law, who was inside the camp, and Julianus, who arrived at the walls and shouted his offers up. The bidding rose until Julianus promised 25,000 sesterces a man, a considerable sum, and the gates were opened to him. The Senate confirmed him under armed pressure the same night. He was hated immediately. Crowds in the streets and in the Circus called for Pescennius Niger, and Julianus could not pay what he had promised because the treasury was empty. Three provincial governors were proclaimed by their armies — Niger in Syria, Clodius Albinus in Britain, and Septimius Severus in Pannonia. Severus was closest and marched on Rome. The Senate condemned Julianus to death, and a soldier killed him in the palace on 1 June 193, reportedly asking what he had done to deserve it.

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