{"id":11048,"date":"2014-07-18T11:42:52","date_gmt":"2014-07-18T09:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aussichten-online.net\/?p=5649"},"modified":"2020-03-30T23:29:55","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T21:29:55","slug":"kaiserbiographien-didius-julianus-193-n-chr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eindruecke.achmnt.eu\/2014\/07\/11048\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaiserbiographien: Didius Julianus (193 n. Chr.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

prospectiva imperialia Nr. 20 [18.07.2014]<\/em><\/p>\n

ANCIENT HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA<\/h1>\n

hrsg. v. Jan van der Crabben u.a.<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Didius Julianus<\/h2>\n

by Donald L. Wasson
\npublished on 23 Sptember 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

[URL: http:\/\/www.ancient.eu.com\/Didius_Julianus<\/a><\/strong>]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Didius<\/a><\/p>\n

On March 28, 193 CE Roman<\/a> Emperor Pertinax<\/a> was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, and like his predecessor Commodus<\/a>, he left no apparent successor. Two possible claimants presented themselves to the Guard. These \u201cprotectors\u201d of the imperial throne had vowed that no new emperor would be chosen without their approval and an \u201cauction\u201d ensued, following which, the throne was finally awarded to the highest bidder – Didius Julianus<\/a>, a former commander, governor, and consul<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Marcus Didius Julianus was born on January 30, 133 CE to Quintas Petronius Didius Severus of Milan and Aemilia Clara. He was raised in the home of Marcus Aurelius<\/a>\u2019s mother, Domitia Lucilla. The educational advantages he received there enabled him to rise through the imperial ranks and become a successful commander in Germany, the governor of Lower Germany, and, during the time of Emperor Pertinax, a senator and co-consul. Unfortunately, his career briefly stalled when he and several other commanders were recalled to Rome<\/a> by Emperor Commodus, and he was forced to temporarily retire. Although no proof exists, it was suggested that he may have been part of the conspiracy to assassinate the fallen emperor.<\/p>\n

With the death of Emperor Pertinax, Julianus decided to use his vast wealth to buy the throne, outbidding the prefect of Rome and Pertinax\u2019s father-in-law, Titus<\/a> Flavius Suspicianus. To further secure his claim, he convinced the Guard that Titus might seek revenge for the death of his son-in-law. In his Roman History<\/em>, Cassius Dio spoke of the auction, \u201cDidius Julianus, at once an insatiable money-getter and wanton spendthrift \u2026always eager for revolution and hence had been exiled by Commodus\u2026when he heard of the death of Pertinax, hastily made his way to the camp, and, standing at the gate of the enclosure, made bid to the soldiers for the rule over Rome.\u201d<\/p>\n

He…occupied his time in luxurious living and profligate practices. Herodian<\/span><\/div>\n

In his The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire<\/em>, Edward Gibbon also wrote about the auction, \u201cThis infamous offer, the most insolent excess of military license, diffused as universal grief, shame and indignation throughout the city<\/a>. It reached at length the ears of Didius Julianus.\u201d Yet, according to Gibbon, it was not personal ego but his wife and daughter\u2019s suggestion that convinced him to pursue the throne. Gibbon added that as the Guard carried Julianus through the streets to the Senate, they paraded a man \u201cwhom they served and despised.\u201d Herodian, in his History of the Roman Empire<\/em>, spoke of Julianus\u2019s reception by the people of Rome. \u201cNo one, however, shouted the congratulations usually heard when emperors were accompanied by a formal escort; on the contrary, the people stood at a distance, shouting curses and reviling Julianus bitterly for using his wealth to purchase the throne.\u201d<\/p>\n

As with Pertinax, Julianus knew he needed to maintain the support of the Praetorian Guard to remain on the imperial throne – something he would be unable to do. It wasn\u2019t long before the new emperor had to admit that he was not as wealthy as he had claimed and that there was little if any money in the treasury. Unfortunately for Julianus, his purchase of the throne made him unpopular with both the Senate and people, and with the loss of the Guards‘ support, his days on the throne were numbered. He also fared no better when he eventually assumed his new responsibilities. According to Herodian, \u201cHe regarded his duties to the state as of no consequence and occupied his time in luxurious living and profligate practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost immediately after Julianus assumed his new duties, three commanders voiced their intentions to secure the throne from him; all three stated he had been chosen by Pertinax as his successor. The first to declare his intent was Gaius Pescennius Niger, governor of Syria<\/a> and the preferred choice of many in Rome. Although he was named emperor by his troops (he even selected Antioch as his capital), he chose to wait for his march on Rome until he could muster more support – he only had four legions at his disposal. Next came Decimus Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain<\/a>, to declare his intentions; however, he did so with the support of only three legions. Lastly, there was Lucius Septimius Severus<\/a>, governor of Pannonia Superior, a province on the Danube. He appeared to be the strongest of the three candidates with 16 legions – the entire Rhine\/Danube army.<\/p>\n

On April 9, 193 CE, with the full support of his army, Serverus declared himself emperor at Carnuntum. After gaining (or buying) the backing of Albinus, he marched southward to Rome. In desperation Emperor Julianus ordered the Guard to construct fortifications to defend the city against Severus, but they refused. Next, Julianus asked the Senate to name Severus as co-consul; they, too, refused. Gibbon wrote, \u201c\u2026in the invincible and rapid approach of the Pannonian legions, he saw his inevitable doom.\u201d On June 1, 193 CE Julianus was sentenced to death by the Senate, and, while he had yet to enter the city, Severus was recognized as the new emperor. An assassin was sent to Julianus\u2019s home, and finding him alone, stabbed and beheaded him. The former emperor\u2019s last words were, \u201cBut what evil have I done. Whom have I killed?\u201d His death would mark the end of the second emperor in the \u201cYear of the Five Emperors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for Julianus and posterity, little is known of his accomplishments while on the throne. Most historians are restricted to comments on the manner in which he obtained power and the ignoble way he lost it.<\/p>\n

Written by Donald L. Wasson<\/a>, published on 23 September 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a>. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Bibliography<\/h3>\n