| |
When
the report of the murder of the Emperor Pertinax spread among the
people, consternation and grief seized all minds, and men ran about
beside themselves. An undirected effort possessed the people---they
strove to hunt out the doers of the deed, yet could neither find nor
punish them. But the Senators were the worst disturbed, for it seemed
a public calamity that they had lost a kindly father and a righteous
ruler. Also a reign of violence was dreaded, for one could guess that
the soldiery would find that much to their liking. When the first
and the ensuing days had passed, the people dispersed, each man fearing
for himself; men of rank, however, fled to their estates outside the
city, in order not to risk themselves in the dangers of a change on
the throne. But at last when the soldiers were aware that the people
were quiet, and that no one would try to avenge the blood of the Emperor,
they nevertheless remained inside their barracks and barred the gates;
yet they set such of their comrades as had the loudest voices upon
the walls, and had them declare that the Empire was for sale at auction,
and promise to him who bid highest that they would give him the power,
and set him with the armed hand in the imperial palace.
When this
proclamation was known, the more honorable and weighty Senators,
and all persons of noble origin and property, would not approach
the barracks to offer money in so vile a manner for a besmirched
sovereignty. However, a certain Julianus---who had held the consulship,
and was counted rich---was holding a drinking bout late that evening,
at the time the news came of what the soldiers proposed. He was
a man notorious for his evil living; and now it was that his wife
and daughter and fellow feasters urged him to rise from his banqueting
couch and hasten to the barracks, in order to find out what was
going on. But on the way they pressed it on him that he might get
the sovereignty for himself, and that he ought not to spare the
money to outbid any competitors with great gifts to the soldiers.
When he came
to the wall of the camp, he called out to the troops and promised
to give them just as much as they desired, for he had ready money
and a treasure room full of gold and silver. About the same time
too came Sulpicianus, who had also been consul and was prefect of
Rome and father-in-law of Pertinax, to try to buy the power also.
But the soldiers did not receive him, because they feared lest his
connection with Pertinax might lead him to avenge him by some treachery.
So they lowered a ladder and brought Julianus into the fortified
camp; for they would not open the gates, until they had made sure
of the amount of the bounty they expected. When he was admitted
he promised first to bring the memory of Commodus again into honor
and restore his images in the Senate house, where they had been
cast down; and to give the soldiers the same lax discipline they
had enjoyed under Commodus. Also he promised the troops as large
a sum of money as they could ever expect to require or receive.
The payment should be immediate, and he would at once have the cash
brought over from his residence. Captivated by such speeches, and
with such vast hopes awakened, the soldiers hailed Julianus as Emperor,
and demanded that along with his own name he should take that of
Commodus. Next they took their standards, adorned them again with
the likeness of Commodus and made ready to go with Julianus in procession.
The latter
offered the customary imperial sacrifices in the camp; and then
went out with a great escort of the guards. For it was against the
will and intention of the populace, and with a shameful and unworthy
stain upon the public honor that he had bought the Empire, and not
without reason did he fear the people might overthrow him. The guards
therefore in full panoply surrounded him for protection. They were
formed in a phalanx around him, ready to fight; they had "their
Emperor" in their midst; while they swung their shields and lances
over his head, so that no missile could hurt him during the march.
Thus they brought him to the palace, with no man of the multitude
daring to resist; but just as little was there any cheer of welcome,
as was usual at the induction of a new Emperor. On the contrary
the people stood at a distance and hooted and reviled him as having
bought the throne with lucre at an auction.
|
|
