An Empire For SaleOn March 28th, 193 AD, the Praetorian Guard (bodyguards of the Roman Emperor) murd

An Empire For SaleOn March 28th, 193 AD, the Praetorian Guard (bodyguards of the Roman Emperor) murdered Emperor Pertinax, a man they had installed on the throne a mere three months earlier.  At the time the Praetorian Guard were the most powerful force in the empire, and controlled the Roman Senate by force. After the murder of Pertinax, the Praetorians announced that they would host an auction for the throne.  Rome’s wealthiest and most powerful citizens gathered to participate in hopes of buying the empire.  After several rounds a bidding war developed between Titus Flavius Claudius Sulpicianus, the Prefect of Rome, and Didius Julianus, the Proconsul of Africa.  Sulpicianus bid 20,000 sesterces (silver coins) to every Praetorian Guard. Julianus however won the bid by offering 25,000 sesterces, an enormous sum that Sulpicianus could not match.  The guards immediately saluted him and declared him emperor.Unfortunately for Didius Julianus, his time as emperor would be very short.  The people of Rome were resentful of having an emperor ascend to power through pure greed.  Whenever he made a public appearance people would taunt and jeer while pelting him with rotten vegetables.  Worse yet, his Praetorian Guards, enriched with silver, ceased to do their jobs of guarding him, instead falling into sloth, debauchery, and drunkenness.  This was especially bad timing since several generals of the army rebelled against his rule, seeing him as a stain upon Roman tradition and honor.  The senate revoked his title as emperor and declared Septimus Severus to be the new ruler of Rome.  On the 1st of June, 193, Didius Julianus was killed by a palace soldier, a mere 2 months after his coronation as Emperor of Rome. -- source link

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