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DIdius Julianus, who succeeded in the Empire after Pertinax, had for his Great Grandfather, Salvius Julianus; who was twice Consul, the Governor of the City of Rome, and which rendred him yet the more remarkable, was that he was
a Professor of the Law. His Mother was cal∣led Clara Aemilia; his Father Petronius Didius Severus; his Brothers, Didius Proculus and Num∣mius Albinus; his Uncle by his Mother's side, Salvius Julianus; his Grandfather, by his Fa∣thers side, an Insubrian of Milan: and his Great Grandfather by his Mothers side was Salvius Julianus, who was of the City Maho∣meta in the Kingdom of Tunis. He was brought up by the hand of Domitia Lucilla, who was the Mother of the Emperor Marcus Antoninus; and by whose Interest he was first put into the Commission of the Viginti Viri. Then he was made a Quaestor, although a year sooner than the Law permitted him in point of age. Then he was made an Aedile and a Praetor, by the favour of Marcus Antoninus. And after his Praetorship, he had the Com∣mand in Germany of the Twenty Second Le∣gion, called Primigenia. After that he Go∣verned in Gallia Belgica very well, and very long: where the Cauchi, a People of Germa∣ny, who bordered upon the River of Elbe, making an Eruption upon him, he resisted them so well with only the tumultuous Forces of the Province, that he merited by it a Con∣sulship. In like manner he overcame the Catti. Then he was translated to the Govern∣ment of Dalmatia; which he very well main∣tained against the bordering Enemies. Next he was removed to the Lower Germany, and after that he was made the General of the Provisions in Italy.
He was once accused by one Severus Claris∣simus, a Soldier, of being in a Conspiracy with Salvius Julianus, against Commodus. But because Commodus had already put many Sena∣tors to death, who were great and powerful Persons, and because he was willing a while to forbear his further Cruelty, Didius Julia∣nus was discharged at that time, and his Ac∣cuser Condemned; after which he was re∣manded again to his Province. Then he had the Government of Bithynia given him; in which however he came short of that Fame, that he had acquired in his other Govern∣ments. Next he was made a Consul in Con∣junction with Pertinax, and he succeeded to Pertinax in the Proconsulship of Africa; who therefore always called him his Collegue and his Successor: But this was more especially re∣marked to be Ominous, one day when Juli∣anus came with his Kinsman to him, when Emperor, to be Contracted to a Daughter of Pertinax. For as Pertinax received him with the respect and kindness that was due; he said to him at the same time, You, Sir, Are•• my Colleague and my Successor: and presently after that, followed the death of that Prince. Now he who first put up to be Emperor after the death of Pertinax, was Sulpitianus, who was then in the Camp of the Guards. In the mean time the Senate as∣sembled; whither Julianus together with his Son-in-Law coming, and finding the Doors shut, and the two Tribunes P. Florianus and Vectius Aper standing at the Door, those two
Tribunes began to persuade him to possess him∣self of the Empire that was vacant. To which he answering, that it was already di∣sposed of to another, they nevertheless took him even against his will, and carried him to the Camp: where they found Sulpitianus, who was the Governor of Rome, and Son-in-Law to Pertinax, haranguing the Soldiers in his own favour so strongly, that they refused to hearken in the least to Julianus, till he had wisely advised them not to make Choice of one who would Revenge the Murder of Pertinax, who was Father-in-Law to him; and then they all immediately tacked about to Julianus; who giving it them under his Hand in Writing, that he would restore the Memory of Commodus, they proclaimed him, engaging him to bear no displeasure however against Sulpitianus for the Pretensions which he had made to their Favour.
Then he Chose, by their Advice, Flavius Gentalis, and Tullius Crispinus to be the Cap∣tains of the Guards; and whereas he had pro∣mised, that he would give the Soldiers a Boun∣ty of five and twenty thousand Sesterces, he gave them thirty. In the Evening, after he had Harangued them according to Custom, he came from the Camp to the Senate, to whom he intirely referred himself: the Se∣nate accepted him; and first Inrolled him a∣mongst the Families of the Patricians; then they declared him Emperor. The Tribunitian and the Proconsular Powers were conferred upon him; and his Wife called Mallia Scan∣tilla,
and his Daughter Didia Clara were ho∣noured by them with the Titles of Empress, and Princess. From the Senate he repaired to the Palace, whither he took his Wife and Daughter with him; but they went trembling, and against their wills, as if their minds gave them some secret Presages of an approaching Destruction. He made Cornelius Repentinus, his Son-in-Law, the Governor of the City of Rome, in the place of Sulpitian. But in the mean time the Populace bore to Julianus a Publick hatred, as if he would revive the times of Com∣modus, and as if he had been the Murderer of Pertinax, because he proposed to amend his Faults. They pretended to say further, that despising the Frugal Table of Pertinax, he had from the first day provided himself ano∣ther that was Luxurious, full of all sorts of excellent Meats; but this however was false. For besides that his Table was sufficiently Fru∣gal, he did not Eat at all the first day, till the Body of Pertinax was buried; and then he did it with a great Melancholy upon him, and spent all the night afterwards sleepless, he was so concerned for his Friend's death.
The next Morning, as soon as it was light, the Senate and the Gentry coming to wait upon him at the Palace; he admitted them, and called them all, with a great deal of Civility, according to every one's Age, his Father, or his Son, or his Brother. Nevertheless the Populace both in the Forum, and before the House of the Se∣nate, loaded him with perpetual Reproaches, as if they hoped by that means to oblige him
to lay down the Empire, that he had received at the Hands of the Soldiers. They threw a Shower of Stones at him; and as he came to the Senate Cursed him publickly, and Cursed him again as he was at his Devotions, by which they wished he might never obtain any thing of the Gods. In the mean time as they threw Stones at him, he only waved his Hand to∣wards them to Pacifie them: and what he said to the Senate was very sweet and prudent. He thanked them that they had admitted him to Administer, in Conjunction with them, the Soveraign Power; and for the Honor they had done, not only to himself, but to his Wife and his Daughter. He accepted from them the Title of the Father of the Country; but he re∣fused to have his Statue set up in Silver, which they offered him. Going from the Senate a∣gain to the Capitol, the Populace made a stop to him; till they were forced aside, partly by Blows with Sword in Hand, and partly by good Words and promises of Money. From thence he went to the Publick Games in the Cirque; where the People Crowding them∣selves indifferently into all the Seats, redoubled their outragious Reproaches against him; and called aloud upon Pescennius Niger, who was said to have already taken upon him the qua∣lity of the Emperor, to come to the Succour of the City of Rome; yet all this took he quietly, and appeared to be of an extraordinary sweet Temper all the time of his Reign. The People inveighed no less bitterly against the Soldiers, who had kill'd Pertinax, they said for Money. To
conciliate therefore the favour of these People, several things which Commodus had well ap∣pointed, and Pertinax had abolished, Didius Julianus restored again. He spoke nothing, neither good nor bad, as to Pertinax himself; which seemed to several to be very strange; but the only reason, why he was silent of his Honor, was the fear of the Soldiers, who had killed him.
Now Julianus had no apprehension of any Opposition being made to him on the side either of the Forces in Great Britain, or those in Illyricum. But fearing especially those in Syria, which were commanded by Pescennius Niger, he sent a Centurion thither with Or∣ders to cut him off. Hereupon Pescennius Ni∣ger in Syria, and Septimius Severus in Illyricum, revolted from Julianus with the Armies under their Commands. Being told of the latter, from whom he had suspected nothing; he came in Anger to the Senate, and caused him to be declared an Enemy, and the Soldiers with him, unless they deserted him by such a day: to whom Messengers were sent at the same time from the Senate, to persuade them to renounce Severus, and adhere to Julianus. Amonst whom was Vespronius Candidus, who was a great Senior in the Rank of the Con∣suls, but hated of old by the Soldiers, because of his Severities. Valerius Catulinus was sent in the Quality of Successor to Severus: as if it was an easie thing to be the Successor of a Man, who had an Army to defend him. Together with these was sent Aquilius, the Centurion, a
known Assassin, who having already mur∣dered many Senators, might try his Hand once again, and do no less to Severus. In the mean time Didius Julianus ordered the Guards to be exercised, and their Camp to be refortified. But as the Soldiers were become idle, and dis∣solute by being accustomed to the Luxuries of Rome, it was very much against their wills, that they were brought to their Arms; inso∣much that they hired others for Money to sup∣ply their places, and do their duties in their steads.
Septimius Severus took his march towards the City of Rome, with the Army under his Command; whilst the People there, every day more both hated and derided Julianus. Nor was he able to do any good upon the Soldiers of the Guards; and thinking that Laetus was a Favourer of the Cause of Severus, he un∣gratefully commanded him to be killed, who was one that had formerly saved his life from the Hands of Commodus; and Martia he com∣manded to be killed with him. But whilst these things were in passing, Severus possessed him∣self of the Fleet and City of Ravenna; and the Embassadors of the Senate, that had pro∣mised this Succour to Julianus, changed sides, and engag'd on the part of Severus. Also Tul∣lius Crispinus, the Captain of the Guards, who had been sent to make Head against his Troops, received a defeat, and returned back by Rome. When Julianus saw all this, he pro∣posed to the Senate, that the Vestal Virgins and all the Priests, together with the Senate,
should march forth to meet the Army of Se∣verus, Arrayed all in their several Habits, and should conjure and persuade him fairly to de∣sist his Hostilities. A vain thing indeed, to sup∣pose of an Army of desperate Soldiers. There∣fore Faustinus Quintillus, an Augur, and a Consul, took the liberty to contradict him in that Proposal; and boldly said, to which ma∣ny of the Senators gave their consents; That a Man was not fit to Command, who could not resist his Adversary by force of Arms. Julianus in great Anger sent for Soldiers out of the Camp, to force the Senate into a Compliance with him, or Massacre them upon the place. But neither did this take. For certainly it was very unreasonable, that when the Senate had adjudged Severus an Enemy upon the account of Julianus, the same Julianus should turn such a Butcherer of the Senate. So he came to the Senate with another and a better Pro∣posal, which was that there might be an Act for the participation of the Empire betwixt Severus and him, and this was done imme∣diately. Every one now called to mind an Omen of all this, which came from the Mouth of Julianus himself, when he had the Empire given him. For when the Consul had said in the name of the Senate, I order Didius Julianus to be proclaimed Emperor, Julianus prompted and corrected him thus, say Didius Ju∣lianus Severus, that is, because Severus was a third name which he took from his Grandfather, and Great Grandfather. Some indeed deny, that there was any such Order of his, as that of
murdering the Senate, who had been so kind to him. But however that is, after passing that Act, he sent immediately Tullius Crispinus, his Captain of the Guards, to Complement Severus. He also Created Veturius Macrinus, another Captain of the Guards; because he un∣derstood that Severus had sent Letters to make him one. In the mean time the People said a∣loud, and Severus suspected as much, that this Peace was but a Feint, and that Tullius Crispinus was sent to him rather with private Orders to kill him. So Severus, with the advice of his Army, chose to be his declared Enemy, rather than his Partner; and accordingly he writ to a great many Persons in Rome, his Friends, who secretly received and dispatched his Or∣ders. As for the rest, Julianus tried all sorts of things by the Magicians, that could be de∣vised to mitigate the hatred of the People, or to bridle the Arms of the Enemy. And cer∣tainly the Magicians offered such Sacrifices for him upon this occasion, as were by no means consonant to the Rites of the Romans. They tried their Charms in Profane Verses, and o∣ther Charms which they do with a Looking∣glass: but yet all went ill on the side of Ju∣lianus; and all that they discovered from them was, the coming in of the one, and the departure of the other Emperor.
As Tullius Crispinus came as far as to meet the Avant-Guards of Severus, he was killed by his order, in which he followed the ad∣vice that was given him by Julius Laetus. Then Julianus convoked the Senate again,
and asked their Opinions, what more was to be done; but the Senate could not resolve him. He ordered after that, of his own motion, the Gladiators of Capua to take Arms under the Command of Lollianus Titianus. He in∣vited Claudius Pompeianus, from his Retreat at Tarracina, to joyn with him in the Government, because he had long commanded Armies, and was the Son-in-Law of an Emperor. But Pom∣peianus excused himself, and said, he was an Old Man, and wanted his sight. In the mean time, the Army of Severus was encreased, by Soldiers that came to him out of the Province of Ombria; and he sent Letters before him to Rome, to order the Murderers of Pertinax to be secured. So in a little time, Didius Julianus was abandoned by all the World, and remained in the Court, with only Genialis, one of his Cap∣tains of the Guards, and his Son-in-Law Repen∣tinus with him▪ The next thing was to depose him from the Empire, by the Sentence of the Senate: This was done, and all his Power abro∣gated, and Severus immediately declared Empe∣ror in his place. Afterward it was pretended that he had poysoned himself; but in effect, there were Persons immediately sent on the part of the Senate, who caused him to be killed by the hands of a mercenary Soldier, imploring, as he fell, the Faith of Caesar; that is, Severus. He had given all his Paternal Estate to his Daughter, and emancipated her upon his Elevation to the Empire. But as well her Riches, as her Illustrious Title of Princess, were soon taken from her again. His Body was delivered by Severus, to
Manlia Scintilla his Wife, and to his Daughter, to be buried; who put it into a Tomb of his great Grandfather, five Miles from Rome, upon the Via Lavicana, that is, the High-way, called by that Name.
Now the things condemned in this Prince were these; that he gormandized, that is, eat to excess, gam'd much, plaid at the Wea∣pons of the Gladiators; and did all this, being an Old Man, tho' he had never before been at∣tached to those Vices in his Youth; and that he was Proud; but this is not to be believed, for in his Reign he shewed himself the most humble Man in the World; the most obliging in his Entertainments; the most courteous in his Subscription of himself in his Letters, and of a most excellent Temper in allowing of the Liberties of his Friends. He lived Six and Fifty Years and Four Months; and reigned but Two Months and Five Days. Therefore his great Error was, that he ought by his absolute Au∣thority to have governed those, whom on the contrary he made absolute over himself, to go∣vern the State.
A Chris••. CXCIV.
His Ex∣traction.
His Ad∣vance∣ment.
Declar'd Emperor.
Niger and Severus revolt.
Severus declar'd Partner in the Empire.
He is de∣posed.
And slain.