18 Facts About Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus was even appointed to the consulship in 175 along with Pertinax as a reward, before being demoted by Commodus.

Didius Julianus ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax.

Didius Julianus's father came from a prominent family in Mediolanum, modern-day Milan, and his mother was a North African woman of Roman descent, from a family of consular rank.

Didius Julianus's brothers were Didius Proculus and Didius Nummius Albinus.

Didius Julianus was raised by Domitia Calvilla, mother of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Didius Julianus married a Roman woman named Manlia Scantilla, and sometime around 153, she bore him a daughter, Didia Clara, their only child.

In succession Didius Julianus held the offices of quaestor and aedile, and then, around 162, was named as praetor.

Didius Julianus was nominated to the command of the Legio XXII Primigenia in Mogontiacum.

Didius Julianus further distinguished himself in a campaign against the Chatti, governed Dalmatia and Germania Inferior.

Didius Julianus was then made prefect, charged with distributing money to the poor of Italy.

Meanwhile, Didius Julianus arrived at the camp, and since his entrance was barred, shouted out offers to the guard.

The guards closed with the offer of Didius Julianus, threw open the gates, and proclaimed him emperor.

Didius Julianus declared Severus a public enemy because he was the nearest of the three to Rome, making him the most dangerous foe.

Didius Julianus sent senators to persuade Severus' legionaries to abandon him, a new general was nominated to replace him, and a centurion dispatched to take Severus' life.

Cassius Dio maintained that the Praetorian Guard tried to fight back, but were crushed, while modern historians believe that the Praetorian Guard simply abandoned Didius Julianus, deserting en masse.

Didius Julianus attempted to negotiate with Severus, offering to share the empire with his rival, but Severus ignored these overtures and pressed forward.

Didius Julianus was deserted by all except one of the prefects and his son-in-law, Cornelius Repentinus.

Didius Julianus repelled invasions by the Chatti and the Chauci, both of which helped protect Rome's border provinces.