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The Year of the Six Emperors refers to AD192-193, in which there were six claimants for the title of Roman Emperor.

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 offered 25,000, won 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, ousted Didius Julianus and had him decapitated on 1 June 193, dismissed the Praetorian Guard and executed the soldiers who had killed Pertinax. Septimius Severus defeated Pescennius Niger at Cyzicus and Nicea, both in 193, and then decisively at Issus in 194. Clodius Albinus initially supported Septimius Severus, believing that he would succeed him. When he realised that he would not, he had himself declared Emperor in 195, but was finally defeated by Septimius Severus at the Battle of Lugdunum on 19 February 197.

See also

• Year of the Four Emperors (AD68/69)

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