Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus was executed on this day in 193, ending a 66-day reign that had begun when he purchased the throne at auction from the Praetorian Guard. Marcus Didius Julianus was Roman emperor from March to June 193, during the Year of the Five Emperors.

The Praetorian Guard arranged for army officer Pertinax to succeed the executed Commodus. He attempted reforms during his reign of 86 days. One was the restoration of discipline among the Praetorian Guards, and that led to his death. The Praetorian Guard expected a donativum, and agitated until he produced money, selling off Commodus' property. Pertinax was assassinated by the Guard on 28 March 193. The guard auctioned off the imperial title, which was won by wealthy senator Didius Julianus.

DIDIUS JULIANUS. 193 AD. AV Aureus, VF. $16k.

The mint of Rome was quick to produce new issues, as was the case with Didius Julianus. On the 28th March 193 he outbid Flavius Sulpicianus, the father-in-law of Pertinax, for the empire at the praetorian camp auction, by promising to pay each man 25,000 sestertii. The cohors praetorium was composed of 16 cohorts of 1000 men, meaning Didius had bid 40 million sestertii, 10 million denarii or 400,000 aurei. Threatened by the military, the Senate also declared him emperor. His wife and daughter both received the title Augusta.

Upon his accession, Julianus immediately reversed Pertinax's monetary reforms by devaluing the Roman currency. Pertinax had increased the silver content of the denarius to 87%, Didius Julianus ordered it reduced to 75%.

Julianus was killed in the palace by a soldier on 2 June 193 AD. According to the Roman historian Cassius Dio, Julianus' last words were: "But what evil have I done? Whom have I killed?"