Helvius Pertinax (193 AD)
Family and Background
Born on August 1, 126 in Alba Pompeia in northwest Italy, he was the
son of a freedman. Pertinax's father, Helvius Successus, who had made
his money in the wool trade, sent him to Rome where he studied with
the famous grammarian, Apollinaris. He became a techer himself for
ten years, until he obtained, through the intercession of his patron
(Hedius Rufus Lollianus Gentianus, sonsul in 144) an appointment as a
centurion. In the later years of Pius' reign he was given command of
a cohort in Syria, where he remained until 161 (the year of te
Parthian invasion). As a result of his srvice in this war, he was
promoted to military tribune and sent to Britain. Shortly after that
he was given command of a cavalry unit in Moesia, was made procurator
in charge of the imperial fund for children (alimentorum), and then
commander of the fleet in Germany. In, perhaps, 168 he was given a
senior procuratorship in Dacia, a post from which he was removed.
Restored to office through the intercession of Marcus' relative,
Pompeianus, he was first given command of a large cavalry cohort, and
then of a detatchment (vexillatio) of troops in raetia and Norium. as
a result of his success here, he was admitted to the senate, possibly
with the rank of a tribune or aedile. Marcus then ensured that he
received a praetorship and further military commands (he s said to
have been involved with the rain miracle of ?171, but this may be a
later fabrication), and in 175, he was made consul. In 175-7 he was
given command of both Moesian provinces, and in 180, before the death
of Marcus, he became governor of Syria (in which post, Septimius
Severus, the future emperor, served as one of his legates). He was
dismissed in 181, but recalled to service, in Britain, in 185, and was
governor of North Africa around 190, and consul for a second time
(with Commodus) in 192. He became emperor on January 1, 193, after
the assasination of Commodus
Principal Events (Foriegn)
Principal Events (Domestic)
- Recall of people exiled by Commodus (January)
- Auction of Commodus' goods (January ?)
- Assassination by the praetorian guard, which appears to have ben
inspired by the prefect Sulpicianus (March 28, 193)
Further Reading
Cassius Dio, History of Rome, 73;
Herodian, History of the years after the Death of Marcus, 2;
Historia Augusta, Life of Pertinax;
Birley, Septimius Severus.