A Short-Lived Reign
On March 28, 193 AD, Rome was thrown into turmoil when Emperor Pertinax, a seasoned military officer and reformer, was brutally assassinated by his own Praetorian Guard. His murder marked the beginning of one of Rome’s most chaotic periods—the Year of the Five Emperors.
Who Was Pertinax?
Pertinax was a distinguished general and senator who ascended to the throne following the assassination of Emperor Commodus. Unlike his predecessor, known for excess and cruelty, Pertinax sought to restore discipline and fiscal responsibility to the empire. His strict economic policies, however, alienated the very soldiers who had elevated him to power.
The Praetorian Guard Turns on the Emperor
Pertinax’s efforts to curb the extravagant bonuses given to the Praetorian Guard proved fatal. Just three months into his reign, disgruntled guards stormed the imperial palace, demanding compensation and an end to his reforms. Despite his attempts to negotiate, the soldiers struck him down, ending his rule in a bloody coup.
The Aftermath: Chaos in Rome
With Pertinax dead, the throne was literally auctioned off to the highest bidder—Didius Julianus—further destabilizing Rome. The empire plunged into civil war, as rival generals vied for power in what became the Year of the Five Emperors.
A Legacy of Reform and Betrayal
Though his reign was brief, Pertinax is remembered as a principled ruler who sought to restore order to a declining empire. His assassination highlighted the dangerous influence of the Praetorian Guard, a lesson that future emperors would not forget. His death was not just the fall of a ruler, but a symbol of Rome’s growing instability.
