The soldiers were led to believe by communications from Severus that, if they would surrender the assassins of Pertinax and themselves offer no hostile demonstration, they should receive no harm; therefore they arrested the men who had killed Pertinax and announced this very fact to Silius Messala, the consul.  The latter assembled us in the Athenaeum, [Footnote:  Located on the Capitol, and established by Hadrian.] so called from the fact that it was a seat of educational activity, and informed us of the news from the soldiers.  We then sentenced Julianus to death, named Severus emperor, and bestowed heroic honors upon Pertinax.  So it was that Julianus came to be slain as he was reclining in the palace itself; he had only time to say:  “Why, what harm have I done?  Whom have I killed?” He had lived sixty years, four months, and the same number of days, out of which he had reigned sixty-six days.

Dio, 74th Book:  “Men of intelligence should neither begin a war nor seek to evade it when it is thrust upon them.  They should rather grant pardon to him who voluntarily conducts himself properly, in spite Of any previous transgression, [Lacuna]

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY

Severus takes vengeance on the Pretorians who were the assassins of Pertinax and enters the city (chapters 1, 2).

Prodigies which portended the sovereignty to Severus (chapter 3).

Funeral procession which he superintended, in honor of Pertinax (chapters 4, 5).

War of Severus Augustus against Pescennius Niger (chapters 6-9).

The storming of Byzantium (chapters 10-14).

DURATION OF TIME.

Q. Sosius Falco, C. Erucius Clarus. (A.D. 193 = a.u. 946 = First of Severus, from the Calends of June).

I. Septimius Severus Aug. (II), D. Clodius Septimius Albinus Caes. (A.D. 194 = a.u. 947 = Second of Severus).

Scapula Tertullus, Tineius Clemens. (A.D. 195 = a.u. 948 = Third of Severus).

C. Domitius Dexter (II), L. Valerius Messala Priscus. (A.D. 196 = a.u. 949 = Fourth of Severus).

[Sidenote:—­1—­] Severus upon becoming emperor in the manner described punished with death the | Pretorians | who had contrived the fate of Pertinax.  Before reaching Rome he summoned those remaining [Pretorians], surrounded them in a plain while they still did not know what was going to happen to them, and having reproached them long and bitterly for their transgression against their emperor he relieved them of their arms, took away their horses, and expelled them from Rome.  The majority reluctantly proceeded to throw away their arms and let their horses go, and scattered uninjured, in their tunics.  One man, as his horse refused to leave him, but kept following him and neighing, slew both the beast and himself.  To the spectators it seemed that the horse also was glad to die.