History of Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus was a Roman senator who briefly assumed the troubled imperial throne during the Year of the Five Emperors, a calamitous period marked by rapid turnovers of power. Born on January 30, 133 AD, in the port town of Mediolanum (modern-day Milan), he hailed from a well-to-do family, which paved his path into Roman politics. His full name, Marcus Didius Severus Julianus, reflects his patrician lineage and the expectation of a successful career in public service.

From an early age, Didius Julianus was groomed for a life in public office. Thanks to familial connections and personal aptitude, he embarked on the cursus honorum, the customary path of Roman political advancement. By the age of approximately 20, he had secured the position of quaestor, which marked his formal entry into the Senate, the hub of Roman political life. Over the ensuing decades, Julianus methodically climbed higher in the governmental hierarchy, serving as aedile—a position responsible for public works and games—and then praetor, a role concerned with the administration of justice.

Julianus' career saw him governing provinces across the Roman Empire, including Gallia Belgica and Dalmatia, where he earned a reputation for being upright and effective. His governorship in Bithynia and Asia further solidified his standing as a competent administrator. His tenure in these regions was marked by fairness and efficiency, traits that earned him the respect of both colleagues and subjects. Despite the tumultuous political landscape of the late 2nd-century Roman Empire, Julianus remained a steady presence in Roman politics.

In 190 AD, Julianus achieved the pinnacle of a senatorial career by serving as consul, the most prestigious office one could hold apart from the imperial seat. Despite reaching this high status, Julianus' aspirations toward the imperial throne appeared to be nonexistent; the idea would presumably have seemed unattainable, given the relatively stable rule of Emperor Commodus and the subsequent succession by Pertinax.

However, events took a dramatic turn in March 193 AD, following the assassination of Commodus, which set in course a year of extreme political instability known as the Year of the Five Emperors. Pertinax, Commodus's successor, was killed by the Praetorian Guard—a powerful elite unit entrusted with the protection of Roman emperors—after ruling for just three months. This act of betrayal threw Rome into chaos, with no clear successor to the throne.

In a brazen move, the Praetorian Guard announced they would sell the imperial title to the highest bidder. It was amidst this extraordinary situation that Didius Julianus, enticed by ambitions and possibly persuaded by supporters, decided to vie for the position. In so doing, he outbid a rival claimant, Sulpicianus, the prefect of Rome and father-in-law of the murdered emperor Pertinax. Julianus promised the Praetorian Guard a vast sum for their support—a transaction that historians often cite as the infamous instance of the throne being "purchased."

Assuming the imperial purple on March 28, 193 AD, Julianus’ ascent to power was met with widespread derision. Many Romans were scandalized by the notion that the sacred role of emperor had been bartered away, turning what should have been an esteemed office into nothing more than a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. Even the Senate, which officially acknowledged his rule, probably did so out of fear of Praetorian retaliation rather than genuine support.

Julianus’ reign was precarious from the outset. It was marked by widespread disapproval and opposition, with grassroots movements and competing generals alike challenging his legitimacy. One such threat came from Septimius Severus, a strong and ambitious military leader governing the province of Pannonia.

As Severus marched on Rome with his legions, Julianus’ weaknesses became increasingly apparent. Attempts to secure loyalty by bestowing favors upon soldiers and providing public spectacles did little to endear him to either the Roman populace or the Senate. His administration struggled to maintain order, and he found himself increasingly isolated.

By late May 193 AD, Severus had reached the capital. The Praetorian Guard, witnessing Severus' strength and legitimacy, abandoned Julianus, committing to his service instead. In a desperate bid for survival, Julianus attempted negotiation and appeasement, but his efforts were in vain. On June 1, 193 AD, the Senate, acting perhaps on Severus’ behest, sentenced Julianus to death. His brief and tragic rule ended that day when he was executed in the imperial palace.

Though Didius Julianus’ time as Emperor was fleeting, his story is a telling episode in Roman history. It illustrates the deep-seated issues within the Roman Empire's political and military structures, exemplifying how corruption and ambition could facilitate dramatic and ethically questionable transformations of power. Despite his long senatorial career, Didius Julianus is predominantly remembered for his ill-fated and unpopular purchase of the throne, a testament to the volatility and susceptibility of the Roman imperial system at the time.