Reconstruction of the appearance of Emperor Didius Julianus (ruled several months in 193 CE), who gained power in an unusual way by buying it.
At the end of 192 CE, Emperor Commodus died, and in March 193 CE the praetorians killed his successor – Pertinax. According to historian Cassius Dio, nearly 60-year-old Didius learned about it at a feast. The drunken senator decided to reach for the imperial purple himself. To this end, he went to the praetorian barracks, counting on their support in exchange for a promise of high pay. In the barracks he outbid the praetorian prefect Aemilius Letus, who also wanted to buy power from his subordinates, offering each soldier of the guard 25,000 sesterces. On March 28, 193 CE he was sworn allegiance, and he undertook to restore the fallen statues of Commodus. The Senate adopted the resolution and recognized Didius Julianus as emperor by the will of the army, senate and people. It should be emphasized, however, that the new emperor did not enjoy the support and was soon murdered by the praetorians.
