by John Welford

Created on: August 05, 2009

Let us suppose that, instead of going through the wearisome 4-yearly process of holding primaries and then a presidential election, the American constitution was set aside and the office of President was announced on eBay as being available to the highest bidder. It would certainly take nothing like as long, although some might claim that the arrangement lacked a little something in terms of democratic endorsement! Could it happen? Well, something very similar did actually happen in the year 193, during a turbulent period in the history of the Roman Empire.

The emperor Commodus had proved to be a latter-day Caligula, in that he had become emperor at a young age (20 in the case of Commodus), had allowed his unworthy favorities to have far too much influence, and had led a thoroughly debauched life including fighting as a gladiator, demanding to be worshipped, and eventually being murdered by people who feared for their own lives were he to live any longer.

One consequence of his reign was that the Praetorian Guard, the troops under the direct command of the emperor who were supposed to be an elite fighting force, the duties of which included providing his personal bodyguard, had become ill-disciplined and more interested in acquiring personal wealth and living the good life than anything else.

When Commodus was removed, the new emperor, Pertinax, had a very different approach, and sought to lick the Guard into shape with a regime of enforced discipline. He was from an older generation, aged 66 at his accession, who had originally been a schoolmaster and then a soldier, rising through the ranks from centurion to general. Although the new approach was no doubt welcomed by many in Rome, who were sickened by the downward moral spiral of Commodus's imperial court, the Guard saw their privileged and luxurious lifestyle coming to an end and were determined not to let that happen. Consequently, Pertinax was murdered after a reign of less than three months' duration.

The Praetorian Guard now faced a dilemma. Once news reached the outer reaches of empire that the post of emperor was again vacant, new candidates were declared for the post, these being military men who were far more likely to resemble Pertinax in their attitude towards military discipline than Commodus. The Guard needed a new Commodus, who would lavish favors upon his closest aides, but how was such a one to be found?

Somebody then came up with a brilliant idea, or so it must have seemed

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>