Editing Didius Julianus

{{short description|Roman emperor in 193}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = Buste de Didius Iulianus5.jpg
| alt          = White bust of a bearded man
| caption      = Bust, [[Capitoline Museums]], Rome<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Roman marble portrait bust of Emperor Didius Julianus |url=https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6199614 |website=[[Christie's]]}}</ref>
| succession   = [[Roman emperor]]
| reign        = 28 March – 2 June 193
| predecessor  = [[Pertinax]]
| successor    = [[Septimius Severus]]
| birth_date   = 29 January 133
| birth_place  = [[Mediolanum]], [[Roman Italy|Italy]]
| death_date   = 2 June 193 (aged 60)
| death_place  = [[Rome]], Italy
| burial_place = 
| spouse       = [[Manlia Scantilla]]
| issue        = [[Didia Clara]]
| full name    = Marcus Didius Julianus
| regnal name  = Imperator Caesar Marcus Didius Severus Julianus Augustus{{sfn|Hammond|p=33. "His ''Life'' says he took ''Severus'' on his accession"}}{{sfn|Wotawa|loc=col. 412}}
| father       = [[Quintus Petronius Didius Severus]]
| mother       = Aemilia Clara
}}
{{Year of Five Emperors}}
'''Marcus Didius Julianus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɪ|d|i|ə|s}}; 29 January 133 – 2 June 193)<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.5: "He had lived sixty years, four months, and the same number of days, out of which he had reigned sixty-six days." Dio's calculations can also give 28 January and 1 June by using [[inclusive counting]].</ref> was [[Roman emperor]] from March to June 193, during the [[Year of the Five Emperors]]. Julianus had a promising political career, governing several provinces, including [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Germania Inferior]], and defeated the [[Chauci]] and [[Chatti]], two invading Germanic tribes. He was even appointed to the consulship in 175 along with [[Pertinax]] as a reward, before being demoted by [[Commodus]]. After this demotion, his early, promising political career languished.

Julianus ascended the throne after buying it from the [[Praetorian Guard]], who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax. A civil war ensued in which three rival generals laid claim to the imperial throne. [[Septimius Severus]], commander of the legions in [[Pannonia]] and the nearest of the generals to Rome, marched on the capital, gathering support along the way and routing [[Cohort (military unit)|cohort]]s of the Praetorian Guard Julianus sent to meet him. Abandoned by the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] and the Praetorian Guard, Julianus was killed by a soldier in the palace and succeeded by Severus.

== Early life ==

Julianus was born to [[Quintus Petronius Didius Severus]] and Aemilia Clara.<ref name="ha12">[[Historia Augusta]], ''Didius Julianus'', 1.2</ref> His father came from a prominent family in [[Mediolanum]], modern-day [[Milan]], and his mother was a North African woman of Roman descent, from a family of consular rank. His brothers were Didius Proculus and Didius Nummius Albinus.<ref name="ha12"/> His date of birth was 29 January, the year was 133 according to [[Cassius Dio]] and 137 by the less reliable ''[[Historia Augusta]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Didius Julianus was raised by [[Domitia Calvilla]], mother of the emperor [[Marcus Aurelius]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.3.</ref> With Domitia's help, he was appointed at a very early age to the ''[[Vigintisexviri|vigintivirate]]'', the first step towards public distinction.<ref name="ha14">Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.4.</ref> He married a Roman woman named [[Manlia Scantilla]], and sometime around 153, they had a daughter, [[Didia Clara]], their only child.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 3.4.</ref>

== Imperial service ==

In succession Julianus held the offices of [[quaestor]]<ref name="ha14"/> and [[aedile]],<ref name="ha15">Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.5.</ref> and then, around 162, was named as [[praetor]].<ref name="ha15"/> He was nominated to the command of the [[Legio XXII Primigenia]] in [[Roman Mogontiacum|Mogontiacum]] (now [[Mainz]]).<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.6.</ref> In 170, he became [[list of Roman governors of Gallia Belgica|praefectus]] of [[Gallia Belgica]] and served for five years.<ref name="ha17">Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.7.</ref> After repelling an invasion by the [[Chauci]],<ref name="ha17"/> a tribe dwelling in the [[drainage basin]] of the river [[Weser]], the northwestern coastal area of present-day Germany, he was raised to the consulship in 175 along with Pertinax.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.8, 2.3; ''Pertinax'', 14.5.</ref> He further distinguished himself in a campaign against the [[Chatti]],<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.8.</ref> governed [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]]<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 1.9.</ref> and [[Germania Inferior]].<ref name="ha21">Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 2.1.</ref> He was then made prefect, charged with distributing money to the poor of [[Italy]].<ref name="ha21"/> Modern historians generally consider this a demotion for political reasons, as [[Commodus]], the Roman Emperor at the time, feared Julianus' growing power.<ref name = livius/> It was around this time that he was charged with having conspired against the life of Commodus, but the jury acquitted him and instead punished his accuser.<ref name="ha21"/> Afterwards, he governed [[Bithynia]]<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 2.2.</ref> and succeeded Pertinax as the [[proconsul]] of [[Africa Province|North Africa]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 2.3; ''Pertinax'', 4.1, 14.5.</ref>

== Emperor ==

=== Rise to power ===

After the murder of Pertinax on 28 March 193, the Praetorian guard announced that the throne was to be sold to the man who would pay the highest price.<ref>Herodian, ii.6.4.</ref> [[Titus Flavius Claudius Sulpicianus]], [[Praefectus urbi|prefect of Rome]] and Pertinax's father-in-law, who was in the Praetorian camp ostensibly to calm the troops, began making offers for the throne.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 11.1; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 2.4, 2.6.</ref> Meanwhile, Julianus also arrived at the camp, and since his entrance was barred, shouted out offers to the guard.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 11.3; Herodian, ii.6.8.</ref> After hours of bidding, Sulpicianus promised 20,000 [[sesterces]] to every soldier; Julianus, fearing that Sulpicianus would gain the throne, then offered 25,000.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 11.5.</ref> The guards closed with the offer of Julianus, threw open the gates, and proclaimed him emperor.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 11.5; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 2.7; Herodian, ii.6.11.</ref> Threatened by the military, the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] also declared him emperor.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 12; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 3.3.</ref> His wife and his daughter both received the title Augusta.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 3.4, 4.5.</ref>

=== Reign and opposition ===

[[File:Dupondius-Didius Julianus-RIC 0012 (obverse).jpg|left|200px|thumb|Coin of Julianus. Inscription: CAES. M. DIDI. IVLIAN. AVG.]]

Upon his accession, Julianus immediately reversed Pertinax's monetary reforms by devaluing the [[Roman currency]].<ref>{{cite news|author = Vicki Leon | title = Friends, donors and countrymen | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | access-date = 24 August 2014 |url = https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-leon-ancient-campaign-finance-20140825-story.html}}</ref> Pertinax had increased the silver content of the denarius to 87%, whereas Didius Julianus ordered it reduced to 75%, nearly the adulterated amount that was present during the reign of Commodus. Because Julianus bought his position rather than acquiring it conventionally through succession or conquest, he was a deeply unpopular emperor.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 13.2–5; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 4.2–7; Herodian, ii.7.3.</ref> When Julianus appeared in public, he frequently was greeted with groans and shouts of "robber and parricide".<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 13.3.</ref> Once, a mob even obstructed his progress to the [[Capitoline Hill|Capitol]] by pelting him with large stones.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 4.2, 4.4.</ref> When news of the public anger in Rome spread across the Empire, three influential generals, [[Pescennius Niger]] in [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]], [[Septimius Severus]] in [[Pannonia]], and [[Clodius Albinus]] in [[Roman Britain|Britain]], each able to muster three [[Roman legion|legions]], rebelled. They refused to accept Julianus' authority as emperor and instead each declared himself emperor.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 14.3–4; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 5.1–2.</ref> Julianus declared Severus a public enemy because he was the nearest of the three to Rome, making him the most dangerous foe.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 5.3; ''Septimius Severus'', 5.5.</ref> Julianus sent senators to persuade Severus' legionaries to abandon him,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Septimius Severus'', 5.5.</ref> a new general was nominated to replace him, and a [[centurion]] dispatched to take Severus' life.<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 5.4–8.</ref>
[[File:Didius Julianus (cropped) - Residenz Museum - Munich.jpg|thumb|230x230px|bust of Didius Julianus]]
The [[Praetorian Guard]] had rarely fought in field battles, so Julianus marched them into the [[Campus Martius]] and drilled the guard in the construction of fortifications and field works.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 16.1–2; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 5.9; Herodian, ii.11.9.</ref> Despite this training, the Praetorian Guard was still undertrained compared to the field legionaries of Severus. Severus first secured the support of Albinus, declaring him [[Caesar (title)|Caesar]],<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 15.1–2.</ref> and then seized [[Ravenna]] and its fleet.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 16.5; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 6.3.</ref> Severus killed [[Tullius Crispinus]], the [[Praetorian prefect]], who was sent to negotiate with Severus and slow his march on Rome,<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 6.4.</ref> and won over to his cause the ambassadors sent to turn his troops.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.1; Historia Augusta, ''Septimius Severus'', 5.6.</ref><ref name = livius>{{cite web |url = https://www.livius.org/articles/person/didius-julianus/didius-julianus-2/ | publisher = Livius.org |access-date = 31 March 2019 |title = Didius Julianus}}</ref> [[Cassius Dio]] maintained that the Praetorian Guard tried to fight back, but were crushed,<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 16.3.</ref> while modern historians believe that the Praetorian Guard simply abandoned Julianus, deserting ''en masse''.<ref name = livius/>{{Better source needed|reason=livius org does not give authorship, and the sources listed are Dio & other ancient historans. Claims there is general consensus on this is false.|date=March 2023}}

Julianus attempted to negotiate with Severus, offering to share the empire with his rival,<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.2; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 6.9, ''Septimius Severus'', 5.7; Herodian, ii.12.3.</ref> but Severus ignored these overtures and pressed forward. As he marched, more and more cities in Italy supported his claim to the throne.<ref>Herodian, ii.11.6.</ref> The remnants of the Praetorian Guard received pardons from Severus in exchange for surrendering the actual murderers of Pertinax. After seizing the ringleaders and killing them, the soldiers reported what they had done to [[Marcus Silius Messala]], the consul, who summoned the senate to inform them of the proceedings.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.3.</ref> The Senate passed a motion proclaiming Severus emperor, awarded divine honours to Pertinax, and sentenced Julianus to death.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.4; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 8.7; Herodian, ii.12.6.</ref> Julianus was deserted by all except one of the prefects and his son-in-law, [[Cornelius Repentinus]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 8.6.</ref>

=== Death ===

Julianus was killed in the palace by a soldier on 2 June 193 AD, after a mere 66 days of ruling.<ref name=":0">Dio, lxxiv, 17.5; Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 8–9.</ref>  According to the contemporary Roman historian [[Cassius Dio]], Julianus' last words were: "But what evil have I done? Whom have I killed?"<ref name="Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.5">Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.5.</ref> His body was given to his wife and daughter, who buried it in his great-grandfather's tomb by the fifth milestone on the [[Via Labicana]].<ref>Historia Augusta, ''Didius Julianus'', 8.10.</ref> The Senate passed a ''[[damnatio memoriae]]'' motion to condemn Julianus and his legacy.<ref name = livius/> Severus dismissed the Praetorian Guard and executed the soldiers who had killed Pertinax, the previous emperor.<ref>Cassius Dio, lxxv, 1.1.</ref>

== Legacy ==

Julianus repelled invasions by the [[Chatti]] and the [[Chauci]], both of which helped protect Rome's border provinces.<ref name="Hist. Aug. ''Aurel''. 22">SHA. ''Aurel''. 22, ''Did. Iul.''1.6–8</ref> In the long run, the two tribes he repelled were but the harbingers of far larger Germanic migrations that would only truly finish in the sixth century AD. From arguably the reign of M. Aurelius, Rome would be constantly subject to incursions from the descendants of these tribes (see [[Crisis of the Third Century]] and [[Migration Period]]). As emperor, Didius Julianus was unable to pass any major policy reforms in his short reign other than currency devaluation. While the currency devaluation was comparatively minor, he restarted the trend of devaluing the Roman currency which had abated under [[Pertinax]]'s reign. The trend he started, which would continue under the Severan dynasty on a far larger scale, destroyed confidence in Rome's currency, led to rampant hyperinflation, and caused widespread economic upheaval.<ref>Kenneth W. Harl, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5yPDL0EykeAC&pg=PA126 Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700, Part 700]'', p. 126</ref> Moreover, his blatant purchase of the throne shattered any illusions of normalcy in the Roman Empire.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Jack Emerson Brown | year = 2015 | journal = University of Delaware | title = THE ARCHITECTS OF ROME'S DEMISE: THE ROLE OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AND HIS SUCCESSORS IN THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AS A POLITICAL ENTITY | page = 27 | url = http://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/17068/Brown%2C%20Jack.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}}</ref>

== Popular culture ==

In the movie ''[[The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)|The Fall of The Roman Empire]]'', Julianus is played by [[Eric Porter]] and depicted as a scheming henchman of Commodus. At the end of the movie, Julianus and [[Pescennius Niger]], played by [[Douglas Wilmer]], another crony of Commodus, compete against each other in the auction for the throne of Rome.

Julianus' accession and short reign are alluded to in the novel [[The Business (novel)|''The Business'']] by Scottish writer [[Iain Banks]].

== References == 
{{reflist|25em}}

==Sources==
 
* Dio Cassius, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/74*.html ''Roman History'', ''Epitome of Book LXXIV''], 11–17
* {{cite journal |last=Hammond |year=1957 |first=Mason |title=Imperial Elements in the Formula of the Roman Emperors during the First Two and a Half Centuries of the Empire |journal=Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome |volume=25 |pages=19–64 |doi=10.2307/4238646 |jstor=4238646 |url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsofamerica25ameruoft |author-link=Mason Hammond |ref={{sfnref|Hammond}} }}
* Historia Augusta, [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Historia_Augusta/Didius_Julianus*.html ''Didius Julianus'']
* Herodian, [https://www.livius.org/sources/content/herodian-s-roman-history/ ''Roman History''], ii.6–13
* {{citation |last=Meckler |first=Michael L. |title=Didius Julianus (193 A.D.) |work=[[De Imperatoribus Romanis]] |url=http://www.roman-emperors.org/didjul.htm}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Wotawa, August von, "[[s:de:RE:Didius 8|Didius 8]]", ''[[Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft]]'', [https://archive.org/details/PaulysReal-encyclopadieDerClassischenAltertumswissenschaftVolume9-10/page/n103/mode/2up volume 9] (V.1), Metzlerscher Verlag (Stuttgart, 1903), columns 412–424.|ref={{sfnref|Wotawa}} }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Didius Iulianus}}
{{EB1911 poster|Didius Salvius Julianus, Marcus}}
* [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/didius_julianus/i.html Coinage of Didius Julianus]
* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/didjul.htm Biography at Roman-emperors.org]
* [https://www.livius.org/articles/person/didius-julianus/ Livius.org: Didius Julianus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124084537/http://www.livius.org/di-dn/didius/julianus.html |date=24 November 2014 }}

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{{Roman emperors}}
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[[Category:130s births]]
[[Category:193 deaths]]
[[Category:2nd-century executions]]
[[Category:2nd-century murdered monarchs]]
[[Category:2nd-century Roman emperors]]
[[Category:Didii|Julianus]]
[[Category:Executed Roman emperors]]
[[Category:History of auctions]]
[[Category:2nd-century Roman consuls]]
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