Roman emperor Didius Julianus
Marcus Didius Salvius Julianus Severus known simply as Didius Julianus was a Roman emperor who ruled from March 28th,193 AD to June 1st,193 AD. His ascent to the throne was somewhat unusual in that he attained this position through an arrangement with the Praetorian Guard, who held control at the time. The guard had previously assassinated Pertinax who was the former emperor. Julianus made a deal with the Praetorian Guard and after an outright purchase, bought the rights to the throne and was installed as the emperor of Rome.
His reign was far from uneventful however and his ascension to the throne brought about a Roman Civil War that lasted from 193 AD to 197 AD. Even before the end of the war, Rome found itself with a new emperor in Septimius Severus and Julianus was overthrown and subsequently sentenced to death.
Didius Julianus was born in the year 133 AD to Quintus Petronius Didius Severus and Aemilia Clara. Although this is the most commonly accepted year of his birth, reports vary wildly. Cassius Dio has recorded it as January 30th,133 AD and the Historia Augusta has placed it at February 2nd,137 AD.
Didius Severus, originally from Milan, was descended from a respected family and Aemilia was of African origin, although of Roman descent. Additionally her family also had several members who had previously served as consuls. Didius Julianus had two brothers who were named Didius Proculus and Didius Nummius Albinus.
For some reason, the responsibility for the care and upbringing of Didius Julianus was left to Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius' mother, Domitia Lucilla. Julianus later married a woman named Manlia Scantilla and shortly afterwards in 153 AD, the union bore the couple a daughter whom they named Didia Clara. She would be the couple's only child.
Didius Julianus rose to prominence in public office with his appointment as consul in 175 AD. When the previous emperor Pertinax was assassinated, the throne was left open for the taking by the highest bidder. The father of Pertinax's wife, Titus Flavius Sulpicianus (who held the position of City Prefect at the time) offered the sum of 20,000 sestertii to each soldier who supported his claim to the throne.
Didius Julianus however knew that his ambition to rule over the empire would only be realized with the help of a powerful military force and he outbid Sulpicianus with his own offer of 25,000 sestertii toi every soldier who would support his cause. Through this slick manoeuvre, he managed to win the support of the army and the Senate, threatened by Julianus' new allies, finally awarded him the title of Emperor. Both his wife and his daughter subsequently received the honorary title of Augusta.
This event was only the beginning of Didius Julianus's trials however. The decision of the Praetorian Guard to auction off the position of emperor met with the disapproval of many other would-be claimants to the throne. One of them, Septimius Severus, marched to Rome, and in the ensuing power struggle, Didius Julianus was sentenced to death.
He died on June 1st,193 AD.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 14/05/2008
