Today in History: Didius Julianus Buys the Throne of Rome

On this day (March Twenty-Eight) in 193, Didius Julianus bought the office of Emperor of Rome from the Praetorian guard. The guard had just murdered Didius’ predecessor, Pertinax, for attempting to restore discipline to their ranks. After Pertinax’s death the Praetorian Guard announced that they would make emperor whoever paid them the most. There was a quick impromptu auction which Didius won by promising 25,000 sesterces (a brass coin) to each member of the guard.

The people of Rome never accepted Didius greeting him with groans and sometimes throwing stones. When word of this discontent spread out across the empire, three generals decided to make a play to become emperor. The first to arrive was Septimus Severus and the ill-disciplined Praetorian Guard was no match for his experienced troops. They negotiated with Severus to turn over the murderers of Pertinax and then one of their number murdered Didius. Didius Julianus was the second emperor on the throne in what came to be called The Year of the Five Emperors.