Editing Pertinax (section)

==Early life==
His career before becoming emperor is documented in the ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' as well as [[Cassius Dio]]'s ''History of Rome'', and confirmed in many places by existing inscriptions. He was born in [[Alba, Italy|Alba Pompeia]] in Italy,<ref name="dio 74:3">Dio, 74:3</ref> the son of [[freedman]] Helvius Successus. Cassius Dio writes that Helvius was not of noble birth but was at least able to earn enough money to allow Pertinax education to gain a livelihood.<ref name="dio 74:3">Dio, 74:3</ref><ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 1:1</ref> Through this as well as patronage from [[Lucius Hedius Rufus Lollianus Avitus (consul 144)|Lucius Avitus]] (or [[Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus]] according to Dio), Pertinax was commissioned as an officer in a [[Cohort (military unit)|cohort]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 1:6</ref><ref name="dio 74:3">Dio, 74:3</ref>

In the [[Roman–Parthian War of 161–166|Parthian War]] that followed,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 2:1</ref> he distinguished himself, which resulted in a string of promotions, and after postings in [[Roman Britain|Britain]] (as military tribune of the [[Legio VI Victrix|Legio VI ''Victrix'']]){{sfnp|Birley|2005|page=173}} and along the [[Danube]], he served as a [[Procurator (Roman)|procurator]] in [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 2:4</ref> He suffered a setback as a victim of court intrigues during the reign of [[Marcus Aurelius]], but shortly afterwards, he was recalled to assist [[Claudius Pompeianus]] in the [[Marcomannic Wars]].<ref name="dio 74:3"/> In 175, he received the honour of a [[Roman consul|suffect consulship]]{{sfnp|Meckler|1997}} and until 185, Pertinax was governor of the provinces of Upper and Lower [[Moesia]], [[Roman Dacia|Dacia]], [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]], and finally [[List of Roman governors of Britain|governor of Britain]].{{sfnp|Birley|2005|page=173}}

During the 180s, Pertinax took a pivotal role in the [[Roman Senate]] until the praetorian prefect [[Sextus Tigidius Perennis]] forced him out of public life.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 3:3</ref> He was recalled after three years to Britain, where the Roman army was in a state of mutiny.<ref name="dio 74:4">Dio, 74:4</ref> He tried to quell the unruly soldiers there but one legion attacked his bodyguard, leaving Pertinax for dead.{{sfnp|Birley|2005|page=174}} When he was forced to resign in 187, the reason given was that the legions had grown hostile to him because of his harsh rule.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 3:10</ref>

He served as [[proconsul]] of [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]] from 188 to 189,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Pertinax'', 4:1</ref> and followed this term of service with a term as the urban prefect of Rome,<ref>Victor, 18:2</ref> and a second consulship as ordinarius with the emperor [[Commodus]] as his colleague.{{sfnp|Birley|2005|page=174}}