Difference between revisions of "Pertinax"
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[[Publius Helvius Pertinax]] (126 – 193 CE) reigned in 193 CE. | [[Publius Helvius Pertinax]] (126 – 193 CE) reigned in 193 CE. | ||
====Overview=== | ====Overview==== | ||
[[Pertinax]], the urban prefect of Rome, succeeded to the Imperial throne after the murder of [[Commodus]] in 193 CE. He was murdered a few months afterwards by a member of the [[Praetorian Guard]]. He was succeeded by [[Didius Julianus]]. | [[Pertinax]], the urban prefect of Rome, succeeded to the Imperial throne after the murder of [[Commodus]] in 193 CE. He was murdered a few months afterwards by a member of the [[Praetorian Guard]]. He was succeeded by [[Didius Julianus]]. | ||
Revision as of 05:05, 1 March 2012
- This page is edited by Samuele Rocca, Israel
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Pertinax (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category: Pertinax (subject)
Publius Helvius Pertinax (126 – 193 CE) reigned in 193 CE.
Overview
Pertinax, the urban prefect of Rome, succeeded to the Imperial throne after the murder of Commodus in 193 CE. He was murdered a few months afterwards by a member of the Praetorian Guard. He was succeeded by Didius Julianus.
Early Career
Pertinax was born in Alba. His father, Helvius Successus, was a freeman. Although Pertinax began as a grammaticus, he found the right patronage to enter the army. He served in the Parthian War, where he distinguished himself. Thus afterwards he could begin his cursus honorum. As an equestrian, he served as a military tribune of the Legio VI Victrix in Britain and on the Danubian Frontier. He was then appointed procurator in Dacia. He served under Claudius Pompeianus, he was enrolled in the Senatorial order and in 175 CE, and he was appointed consul suffectus together with Didius Julianus. Till 185 CE, Pertinax served as governor of the provinces of Upper Moesia and Lower Moesia, Dacia, Syria and Britannia, where he quelled a mutiny in 187 CE. However, because of the harsh treatment of the mutineers, he was forced to resign. In Rome, Pertinax had also to face the hostility of Perennis, the favorite of Commodus. From 188 till 189 CE, Pertinax served as proconsul of Africa. He was then appointed urban prefect of Rome, and once more in 192 CE, he served as consul ordinarius together with Commodus.
Imperial Succession
After the assassination of Commodus, Pertinax was proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard, soon afterwards at the beginning of 193 CE. He became soon unpopular with the Praetorian Guard, as he refused them a donative at his accession, although afterwards to meet their expectations, he had to sell off various belonging of the previous emperor. A conspiracy, which purpose was to replace Pertinax with the consul Quintus Sosius Falco, failed. However soon afterwards, he was murdered by various soldiers of the Praetorian Guards, who complained that they did not receive their donatives in full. After his murder, the imperial title was auctioned by the Praetorian Guard in a bid, which the Senator Didius Julianus won. Later, once he conquered Rome, Septimius Severus had the murders of Pertinax punished, had the Senate deify him, and gave him a state funeral. The very short reign of Pertinax is also remembered as he tried to reform the alimenta.