ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics The Year of the Five Emperors: When Rome Plunged into Chaos
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 192 A.D., the Roman Emperor Commodus began his day in power but ended it as a victim of an assassination plot. His mistress, Marcia, tried to poison him, but because Commodus was already drunk, he vomited the poison before it could take effect. Determined to succeed, Marcia sent a wrestler to Commodus’s chambers to strangle him. With his death, the Nerva-Antonine dynasty came to an end, as Commodus had no children or adopted heirs.
With Commodus gone, the question of who would become the new emperor arose, leading to one of the most chaotic periods in Roman history. In 193 A.D., five men would compete for the throne, each claiming the right to rule. This period, known as the Year of the Five Emperors, was marked by betrayals, conspiracies, and assassinations, with only one man emerging victorious to establish a new dynasty.
After Commodus’s death, the Roman Senate, who had become his enemies, quickly began reversing his policies and declared him a public enemy. They kept his death a secret until they could appoint a successor: Pertinax. Born in 126 A.D. in Alba Pompeia, Pertinax was not from a noble family. His father was a freedman, and Pertinax initially aimed to become a teacher but found a military career more appealing. With the help of a family friend, he started his military journey in Syria.
Pertinax rose through the ranks, gaining recognition during the Parthian War under emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He held several important positions, including governorships and a consulship, before joining the Senate. When Commodus died, two conspirators in his assassination, Electus and Laetus, saw Pertinax as a suitable new emperor due to his experience and popularity.
Pertinax confirmed Commodus’s death and secured the support of the Praetorian Guard by promising them a monetary gift. He then presented himself to the Senate, offering to step down if a better candidate was found. His humility and practicality convinced the Senate, and on January 1, 193 A.D., Pertinax became the new Roman Emperor.
The people of Rome welcomed Pertinax, celebrating his rise and denouncing Commodus. Pertinax aimed to be a fair ruler, aligning his policies with those of Marcus Aurelius. However, his attempts to reform the corrupt Praetorian Guard by reducing their privileges led to his downfall. After surviving one conspiracy, he was ultimately killed by 200 to 300 soldiers of the Guard, ending his reign after just 87 days.
Following Pertinax’s assassination, chaos ensued. Didius Julianus, a preconsul, saw an opportunity and attempted to gain the support of the Praetorian Guard by offering them money. He entered a bidding war with another contender, Titus Flavius Sulpicianus, and won by promising 25,000 sesterces per soldier. The Senate, fearing for their safety, reluctantly confirmed Julianus as emperor.
However, Julianus’s rule was immediately challenged by powerful generals across the empire. Three more contenders emerged: Pescennius Niger, Septimius Severus, and Claudius Albinus, each with loyal armies and ambitions for the throne.
Pescennius Niger was popular in Syria, Septimius Severus had strong support in central and eastern Europe, and Claudius Albinus was a respected governor. As news of Julianus’s actions spread, these generals prepared to march on Rome. Severus, recognizing the threats posed by his rivals, initially tried to negotiate with Albinus but ultimately prepared for conflict.
The Praetorian Guard, realizing their mistake in supporting Julianus, abandoned him, leading to his arrest and execution. Septimius Severus was then proclaimed the new emperor, marking the start of the Severan dynasty. He swiftly dealt with his enemies and embarked on military campaigns to expand the empire.
Severus’s reign was marked by ambition and military success, but he faced personal challenges, including health issues. He died in 211 A.D., leaving his sons to inherit the throne. The Year of the Five Emperors serves as a reminder of the volatility and intrigue of power in ancient Rome.
Research the key events of the Year of the Five Emperors and create a detailed timeline. Include important dates, the rise and fall of each emperor, and significant battles or political maneuvers. Use visuals like images or drawings to make your timeline engaging.
Divide into groups, with each group representing one of the five emperors. Prepare arguments to support your emperor’s claim to the throne. Engage in a debate, presenting your emperor’s strengths and strategies while countering the arguments of other groups.
Choose one of the emperors from the Year of the Five Emperors and write a short story from their perspective. Incorporate historical facts and events, but add fictional elements to explore their thoughts and motivations during this tumultuous period.
Create a political cartoon that captures the chaos and intrigue of the Year of the Five Emperors. Use humor and symbolism to comment on the power struggles and the actions of the key figures involved. Share your cartoon with the class and explain its meaning.
Examine primary sources from the period, such as writings by historians like Cassius Dio or Herodian. Analyze their accounts of the Year of the Five Emperors, discussing the reliability and perspective of each source. Present your findings in a class discussion.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
It was New Year’s Eve, December 31, 192 A.D. Commodus started the day as Roman Emperor but fell victim to an assassination plot orchestrated by his mistress, Marcia. Initially, she attempted to poison him, but because he was already intoxicated, Commodus quickly fell ill and vomited the toxin before it could take effect. Marcia then resorted to more direct methods by sending a wrestler into the emperor’s chambers to strangle him. With Commodus’s death, the Nerva-Antonine dynasty ended, as he had no children and never adopted any heirs.
The question now was who would become the new emperor, a challenge that would not be easily resolved. The collapse of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty plunged the Roman Empire into one of its most turbulent periods. In 193 A.D., five men would vie for power, each claiming the Roman throne. After a series of betrayals, conspiracies, and assassinations, only one would emerge triumphant, ready to forge his own dynasty following the chaos known as the Year of the Five Emperors.
By the time Commodus perished, he had made sworn enemies out of the Roman Senate. They immediately began undoing many of his changes and even declared him a public enemy of Rome. Understanding that news of his demise would create chaos, they kept his death a secret until they had someone ready to succeed him as emperor: Pertinax. According to historical sources, Pertinax was born in Alba Pompeia in 126 A.D. He did not come from a noble family; his father was a freedman. Pertinax received only a modest education and initially intended to become a teacher but found military life more appealing. With the help of a family friend, he obtained a position as a cohort prefect in Syria.
As the years passed, Pertinax rose through the ranks, especially after distinguishing himself in the Parthian War during the reigns of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He spent decades in the military, moving from Syria to Britain and Dacia, becoming a trusted aide to one of the most important commanders under Marcus Aurelius. For his efforts, he was granted several governorships and a consulship before finally being assigned to the Senate.
When Commodus died, two men involved in his assassination, Electus and Laetus, concluded that Pertinax had the rank, experience, and popularity to become the new emperor. Pertinax first sent a companion to verify the truth of Commodus’s death. Once convinced, he went to the Praetorian barracks to gain their support, claiming that Commodus died of natural causes and promising them a monetary gift. He then presented his case to the Senate, offering to step down if someone younger and more suitable was available. His modesty and practicality convinced the Senate that Pertinax was the best candidate. On January 1, 193 A.D., he was crowned the new Roman Emperor.
The people of Rome seemed pleased with this development, chanting Pertinax’s name and insulting Commodus. An angry mob demanded Commodus’s body to drag it through the streets, but since it had already been buried, they settled for destroying his statues. Pertinax attempted to be a good ruler, showing humanity and integrity, and sought a more democratic reign by refusing elaborate titles, instead styling himself as Chief of the Senate.
Unsurprisingly, Pertinax continued to reverse many of Commodus’s policies, aligning more with Marcus Aurelius, which ultimately led to his downfall. His biggest mistake was angering the Praetorian Guard, who were meant to be elite soldiers but had become one of the empire’s most corrupt institutions. Pertinax intended to reform the Guard by curtailing many of its privileges, making a plot against him almost inevitable. He survived an initial conspiracy but was ultimately struck down by 200 to 300 soldiers of the Praetorian Guard, who stormed the palace, killing him and displaying his head on a spear, ending his reign after just 87 days.
As news of Pertinax’s death spread, most city officials hid in their homes. However, one man saw an opportunity: Didius Julianus, a preconsul. He attempted to enter the Praetorian barracks but was initially denied access. He soon discovered that another contender, the prefect of Rome, Titus Flavius Sulpicianus, was also trying to win over the Praetorian Guard by offering them a monetary gift for their support. Julianus, hearing this, shouted that he would make a better offer. This led to a bidding war between the two officials, with the Praetorian Guard ultimately siding with Julianus, who offered 25,000 sesterces per soldier.
Later that night, Julianus rode through the streets of Rome with the Guard, weapons drawn, to intimidate anyone who opposed him. The Senate, fearing for their lives, reluctantly confirmed Julianus as emperor. He celebrated with a feast while Pertinax’s corpse still lay in the palace. The next day, a riot broke out as the people of Rome rejected Julianus as a legitimate emperor, but they were no match for the Praetorian Guard.
While Julianus had secured his position in Rome, he faced threats from powerful generals across the empire. The Year of the Five Emperors continued with three more contenders: Pescennius Niger, Septimius Severus, and Claudius Albinus. All three were respected generals with loyal armies, and they recognized the opportunity to claim the throne for themselves.
Pescennius Niger, born circa 135 A.D., came from modest means and was well-liked in Syria. Septimius Severus, born in 145 A.D., was the son of a Roman mother and a Carthaginian father. He was stationed in Pannonia and had the support of soldiers in central and eastern Europe. Claudius Albinus, born circa 147 A.D., was also a governor under Commodus.
As news of Julianus’s actions reached them, all three generals prepared to march on Rome. Severus, recognizing the threat posed by Albinus and Niger, sought to secure his position. He initially attempted to negotiate with Albinus but ultimately prepared for conflict. The Praetorian Guard, realizing they had backed the wrong emperor, abandoned Julianus, leading to his arrest and execution.
Septimius Severus was proclaimed the new emperor, and he took swift action against those who had supported his enemies. His reign marked the beginning of the Severan dynasty, and he embarked on military campaigns to expand the empire. However, he faced challenges from remaining rivals, including Pescennius Niger, who was ultimately defeated.
Severus’s reign was characterized by ambition and military success, but he also faced personal challenges, including health issues. He died in 211 A.D., leaving his sons to inherit the throne. The story of the Year of the Five Emperors serves as a reminder of the volatility of power in ancient Rome.
If you found this video interesting, please hit the thumbs up button below, subscribe, and thank you for watching!
—
This version removes any explicit or inappropriate language while maintaining the essence of the original content.
Chaos – A state of extreme confusion and disorder, often occurring during times of political upheaval or social unrest. – During the fall of the Roman Empire, chaos ensued as various factions vied for control.
Power – The ability or capacity to influence or control the behavior of people or the course of events, often held by governments or leaders. – The power of the monarchy was challenged by the rise of parliamentary democracy in England.
Senate – A legislative or governing body, often the upper chamber in a bicameral system, responsible for making laws and policies. – The Roman Senate played a crucial role in the governance of the Republic before the rise of the emperors.
Emperor – A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire. – Augustus became the first emperor of Rome, marking the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Reign – The period during which a sovereign occupies the throne or the act of ruling as a monarch. – Queen Elizabeth I’s reign is often referred to as the Elizabethan Era, known for its cultural flourishing.
Assassination – The deliberate killing of a prominent or important person, often for political reasons. – The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 is widely considered the spark that ignited World War I.
Dynasty – A succession of rulers from the same family or line, maintaining power over a period of time. – The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements and expansion of Chinese influence.
Military – Relating to the armed forces or to soldiers, arms, or war. – The military strategies employed during the Napoleonic Wars significantly altered European political landscapes.
Guard – A person or group of people who protect or defend a place or person, often used in a military context. – The Praetorian Guard was tasked with protecting the Roman emperors, though they sometimes played a role in political intrigue.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on the analysis of cause and effect. – Understanding history allows us to learn from past mistakes and successes to better shape our future.
