Sunday, September 23, 2007

Didius Julianus

Marcus Didius Salvius Julianus Severus (133 or 137–193) was Roman Emperor (28 March 193-1 June 193). He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax. Didius Julianus offered every soldier 25,000 sestertii, outbidding City Prefect Titus Flavius Sulpicianus (the father of Pertinax's wife) who offered only 20,000. Threatened by the military, the Senate declared him emperor. This incited the Roman Civil War of 193–197. Julianus was ousted and sentenced to death by his successor, Septimius Severus.


More about Didius Julianus here.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Pertinax

Publius Helvius Pertinax (August 1, 126 - March 28, 193) was Roman emperor for a short period (86 days) in 193. When Commodus was assassinated by his own household on December 31, 192, Pertinax was proclaimed Roman Emperor the morning after. After short rule Pertinax was assesinated by Praetorian Guard, who according to ancient sources had received only half their promised pay and revolted.





More about Pertinax here.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Commodus

Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192. The name given here was his official name at his accession; see 'Changes of Name' for earlier and later forms. He was the son of Marcus Aurelius; it was the first time a son had succeeded his father as Emperor since Titus exactly a century before, and he was the first Emperor 'born to the purple', i.e. born while his father was already reigning as Emperor.





Emperor Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) confronts a chained Maximus in movie Gladiator:


More about Commodus here.