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Revision as of 19:31, 22 April 2006
The Year of the Six Emperors refers to AD 193, in which there were six claimants for the title of Roman Emperor. It can also refer to the year 238 for the same reason. This article is about 193. For a history of the second year of six emperors see the article on Emperor Maximinus Thrax.
The year 193 opened with the murder of Commodus on New Year's Eve, 31 December 192 and the proclamation of the City Prefect Pertinax as Emperor on New Year's Day, 1 January 193. Pertinax was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard on 28 March 193. Later that day, Didius Julianus won an auction for the title of Emperor with Flavius Sulpicianus (Pertinax's father-in-law and also the new City Prefect). Flavius Sulpicianus offered to pay each soldier 20,000 sestertii to buy their loyalty (eight times their annual salary; also the same amount offered by Marcus Aurelius to secure their favours in AD161). Didius Julianus however offered 25,000 to each soldier to win the auction and was proclaimed Emperor by the Roman Senate on 28 March.
However, three other prominent Romans challenged for the throne: Pescennius Niger in Syria, Clodius Albinus in Britain, and Septimius Severus in Pannonia. Septimius Severus marched on Rome to oust Didius Julianus and had him decapitated on 1 June 193, then dismissed the Praetorian Guard and executed the soldiers who had killed Pertinax. Consolidating his power, Septimius Severus battled Pescennius Niger at Cyzicus and Nicea in 193 and then decisively defeated him at Issus in 194. Clodius Albinus initially supported Septimius Severus believing that he would succeed him. When he realised that Severus had other intentions, Albinus had himself declared Emperor in 195 but was defeated by Septimius Severus at the Battle of Lugdunum on 19 February 197.
See also
- Year of the Four Emperors (AD68/69)
- Roman usurper
External links
- Year of the Six Emperors, Classics Unveiled
- Pertinax, De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Didius Julianus, De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Septimius Severus, De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Pertinax, Livius
- Didius Julianus, Livius
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