The short reign of Pertinax
Publius Helvius Pertinax was a Roman emperor who ruled for only a few short months in the year 193 AD.
Many of the details surrounding his life have been extensively described in the Historia Augusta and these have since been proven to be based on facts, bolstered largely by inscriptions that were found in various places.
Pertinax was born in Alba on August 1st, in the year 126 AD to a freedman named Helvius Successus. Pertinax had a somewhat unremarkable beginning to his career, first gaining employment as a teacher of grammar, grammaticus, but he soon felt dissatisfied with this position.
He then sought out a more rewarding occupation and found one in his appointment as an officer in a cohort, which he managed to obtain with the help of a benefactor. When the Parthian war broke out, Pertinax was called into service and quickly rose through the ranks because of his outstanding performance in battle.
A series of promotions followed in quick succession until he was assigned to a post in Britain where he served as military tribune of the Legio VI Victrix. He was later assigned to yet another post, this time along the Danube where he was placed in the role of procurator in Dacia.
During the reign of Marcus Aurelius, Publius Helvius Pertinax went through a period of controversy and fell prey to numerous intrigues sown by certain members of the court.
His previous exemplary military record however was sufficient enough evidence of his abilities and he was soon placed under the command of Claudius Pompeianus who was in the midst of preparations for the Germanic wars. The year 175 AD would bring about the awarding of a suffect consulship to Pertinax and in its wake, the governorship of the provinces of Dacia and Syria as well as Upper and Lower Moesia, and eventually even governorship of Britain. Publius Helvius Pertinax would hold these latter positions until the year 185 AD.
Beginning in the year 180 AD, Pertinax started to take on a more active role in the Roman Senate. He would continue in this capacity as a public official until he was forced to resign by the praetorian prefect Perennis.
Pertinax would again be called into action as a soldier, when he was summoned to Britain three years later in order to quash a mutiny by the soldiers who were stationed there. He would have been successful in quelling the rebellion if it were not for the treachery of a legion of soldiers who turned upon Pertinax's close cadre of bodyguards.
Pertinax was injured in the ensuing battle and his enemies left him thinking that he was dead. This was probably a mistake that they later thoroughly regretted, for when Pertinax recovered from his injuries he ordered the severe punishment of those who were involved in the rebellion.
Pertinax was serving as urban prefect in December 31st, 192 AD, when Emperor Commodus was killed by members of his own household. He then served as the new emperor before being killed in turn by a member of the Praetorian Guard on March 28th, 193 AD.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008
