On This Day In Roman History, March 28
Publius Helvius Pertinax Augustus has his reign come to an end after he is assassinated by the Praetorian Guard on March 28, 193 CE. Pertinax's rule happens during the Year of the Five Emperors and concludes with the Severan dynasty. Things had been going downhill for Pertinax near the end of his rule and he narrowly thwarted a conspiracy to replace him in early March of 193. Pertinax had been cracking down on the "spoiled" Praetorians, instilling discipline and cutting some of their bonuses. This would ultimately lead to his downfall and by the end of March some two to three hundred guards headed to the Imperial Palace to meet Pertinax. With ample time to flee, he denied the opportunity and instead confronted the large group soldiers. After a discussion, he was finally struck down by an unnamed soldier.
Did you know?
Pertinax realized how dangerous his position as Emperor would be and this can be found in the fact he chose not to bestow Imperial titles upon his family. This included his wife and son, both of whom survived the assassination and went on to live in some obscurity. Pertinax's father in law, Titus Flavius Claudius Sulpicianus, was named the prefect of the city of Rome. He would go on to attempt to be Emperor after Pertinax, but after backing the wrong horse found himself tried and executed in 197 under Septimius Severus.
Pictured: Pertinax as found in the Vatican Museums, Rome. Photo by Egisto Sani, via Creative Commons.
Today's selected quote comes from Dio's a Roman History, Book LXXIV: "Pertinax was an excellent and upright man, but he ruled only a very short time, and was then put out of the way by the soldiers. While the fate of Commodus still remained a secret, the followers of Laetus and Eclectus came to him and informed him what had been done; for because of his excellence and his rank they were glad to choose him. And he, after seeing them and hearing their story, sent his most trustworthy companion to view the body of Commodus. When this man had confirmed the report of the deed, Pertinax than betook himself secretly to the camp. At first his arrival caused the soldiers alarm; but thanks to the presence of Laetus' adherents and to the offers that Pertinax made (he promised to give them twelve thousand sesterces apiece), he won them over. Indeed, they would have remained perfectly quiet, had he not in closing his speech made some such remark as this: "There are many distressing circumstances, fellow-soldiers, in the present situation; but the rest with your help shall be set right again." On hearing this, they suspected that all the privileges granted them by Commodus in violation of precedent would be abolished, and they were displeased; nevertheless, they remained quiet, concealing their anger. On leaving the camp, he came to the senate-house while it was still night, and after greeting us, so far as it was possible for anyone to approach him in the midst of such a jostling throng, he said off-hand: "I have been named emperor by the soldiers; however, I do not want the office and shall resign it at once, this very day, because of my age and feeble health, and because of the distressing state of affairs." This was no sooner said than we gave him our genuine approbation and chose him in very truth; for he was not only most noble in spirit but also strong in body, except that he suffered from a slight impediment in walking by reason of his feet."
Opinion
Welcome to my daily opinion! I am alive but still sick, just happy to finally be OK enough to write some posts! I will slowly attempt to make up the posts I have missed over the course of the next week. With that out of the way, I think that is one of the biggest selected quotes I have used during my time posting! It really does give a good insight into the man that was Pertinax. How could you be so smart about overthrowing Commodus but then fail to financially back the authority that gave you power in Rome, Pertinax?! I guess hind-sight is 20/20, but, for real, he had to have some serious cajones to stare down a few hundred disgruntled guards. This will mark the beginning of a period recognized by its instability, which I will be discussing at some length in the coming months. I hope to have a dedicated post at the conclusion of the Year of the Five Emperors. Thanks for bearing with me during my illness!
Sources
Hohl, E., & Samberger, C. (1997). Scriptores historiae Avgvstae. Stutgardiae: Teubner.
Mennen, I. (2011). Power and status in the Roman Empire, AD 193-284. Leiden: Brill.
T., & Heather, P. (2001). Politics, philosophy, and empire in the fourth century: select orations of Themistius. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
Further Reading:
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