Transcript
Lindsey Graham (0:00)
There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com It's March 28th, 193 CE inside the Imperial palace in Rome. The ruler of the mighty Roman Empire, Emperor Pertinax, paces the halls nervously. He's cancelled his scheduled appearances for the day and taken shelter deep within the palace. Word has reached the 67 year old Pertinax that there will soon be an attempt on his life. Walking alongside the Emperor is his most senior official, Allectus. Alone in this cavernous space, the two men speak in hushed tones, debating their chances. And none of them like the odds. Pertinax has only been emperor for 87 days, but already he's survived two attempted coups by the Praetorian Guard. Praetorians are soldiers who were sworn to protect the Emperor, but after Pertinax made moves to limit their power and prestige, the guard turned on him. Pertinax narrowly escaped their earlier attempts on his life, but he knows his luck cannot last. As Pertinax and Allectus discuss their options, doors to the chamber shudder and then give way. The Praetorians are here, hundreds of them. There are no guards left still loyal to Pertinax, so it only takes moments for the soldiers to surround the Emperor and his aid. But rather than run, Pertinax uses the only weapon he has left. Remaining calm but raising his voice, he reminds the guards of their duty and tries to make them see reason. What they are doing is not the behavior of civilized men. Rome For a few minutes, it seems like it's working, but at least one of the soldiers at the front of the crowd is unmoved. He draws his sword, but is met by Eclectus, who pulls out his own weapon to defend the Emperor. The unsheathing of weapons breaks the spell Pertinax has cast, and the other guards join in the fight. Eclectus is brave, but no match for the hundreds of soldiers, and he quickly falls. Knowing what is coming next, Emperor Pertinax pulls his toga over his head. Then he is brutally cut down by the soldiers in a frenzy of bloodlust. The short reign of Emperor Pertinax is over. A decade before the assassination of Pertinax, the citizens of Rome had enjoyed relative peace. Emperor Marcus Aurelius had been a good and noble leader, a philosopher king who wanted the best for his people. But when he died, his son Commodus became Emperor and brought an end to that era of stability. Commodus was a brutal megalomaniac who hated and feared in equal measure. After 12 years as Emperor, he was murdered by his own allies, and Pertinax ascended to the imperial throne. Now, though Pertinax is dead and the Empire is leaderless, Rome is about to enter a deadly power struggle that would become known as the Year of the Five Emperors. But although one man will finally stake a claim on the throne before the year is done, the civil war within the Empire won't come to a close until the Battle of Lugdunum four years later, on February 19, 197 CE.
