During the first three years of his reign the vices of Commodus affected the emperor rather than the state.  While the young prince revelled in licentious pleasures, the management of affairs remained in the hands of his father’s faithful councillors; but, in the year 183, the attempt of his sister Lucilla to assassinate him produced fatal results.  The assassin, in attempting the deed, exclaimed, “The senate sends you this!” and though the blow never reached the body of the emperor, the words sank deep into his heart.

He turned upon the senate with relentless cruelty.  The possession of either wealth or virtue excited the tyrant’s fury.  Suspicion was equivalent to proof; trial to condemnation, and the noblest blood of the senate was poured out like water.

He has shed with impunity the noblest blood of Rome; he perished as soon as he was dreaded by his own domestics.  A cup of drugged wine, delivered by his favourite concubine, plunged him in a deep sleep.  At the instigation of Laetus, his Praetorian prefect, a robust youth was admitted into his chamber, and strangled him without resistance.  With secrecy and celerity the conspirators sought out Pertinax, the prefect of the city, an ancient senator of consular rank, and persuaded him to accept the purple.  A large donative secured them the support of the Praetorian guard, and the joyous senate eagerly bestowed upon the new Augustus all the titles of imperial power.

For eighty-six days Pertinax ruled the empire with firmness and moderation, but the strictness of the ancient discipline that he attempted to restore in the army excited the hatred of the Praetorian guards, and the new emperor was struck down on March 28, 193.

III.—­An Empire at Auction

The Praetorians had violated the sanctity of the throne by the atrocious murder of Pertinax; they dishonored the majesty of it with their subsequent conduct.  They ran out upon the ramparts of the city, and with a loud voice proclaimed that the Roman world was to be disposed of to the best bidder by public auction.  Sulpicianus, father-in-law of Pertinax, and Didius Julianus, bid against each other for the prize.  It fell to Julian, who offered upwards of L1,000 sterling to each of the soldiers, and the author of this ignominious bargain received the insignia of the empire and the acknowledgments of a trembling senate.

The news of this disgraceful auction was received by the legions of the frontiers with surprise, with indignation, and, perhaps, with envy.  Albinus, governor of Britain, Niger, governor of Syria, and Septimius Severus, a native of Africa, commander of the Pannonian army, prepared to revenge the death of Pertinax, and to establish their own claims to the vacant throne.  Marching night and day, Severus crossed the Julian Alps, swept aside the feeble defences of Julian, and put an end to a reign of power which had lasted but sixty-six days, and had been purchased with such immense treasure.  Having secured the supreme authority, Severus turned his arms against his two competitors, and within three years, and in the course of two or three battles, established his position and brought about the death of both Albinus and Niger.