Pertinax

Publius Helvius Pertinax (Latin: IMPERATOR•CAESAR•PVBLIVS•HELVIVS•PERTINAX•AVGVSTVS), born the 126 and dead the March 28th 193, was Roman Emperor of January to March 193.

Biography

Its career before becoming emperor is mainly known by the Histoire Auguste. Its biography in this anonymous work unequally reliable is undoubtedly inspired by Marius Maximus and the quality of its information is confirmed partly by an inscription of Cologne. Born in the town of '' Alba Pompeia '', from a father Freed, it began its career like “grammaticus” (professor of Grammaire), then, eager to change trade, was made help to become officer in a Cohorte. Being distinguished in the parthic war which followed, it was promoted several times, was useful in Brittany (Great Britain) then along the the Danube, and became Procurateur in Italy then in Dacie.

Victim of intrigues of court - according to its biographer - during the reign of Marc Aurèle, it was quickly pointed out to help Claudius Pompeianus in the Germanic wars. Thanks to its competences and to the patronage of Pompeianus, it enters to the senate and is seen entrusting legions in the Danubian wars. In 175 it was named consul suffect. It takes part then in the repression of the revolt of Avidius Cassius. He was thereafter governor of the provinces of Mésie - higher and lower -, Dacie, Syria, then of Great Britain. During the Years 180, he played a part in the Sénat; he marries Titiana, girl of the senator Flavius Sulpicianus, who gives him a son, also named Pertinax; Perennis forces it to withdraw public life.

Three years later it was pointed out to avoid a military mutiny in Brittany. It acquired there a reputation of strict obedience to the discipline. In 187 it must leave the province, officially because of the resentment within the troops vis-a-vis this discipline. The end of the reign of Convenient sees it arriving at the highest distinctions. It was Préfet of the City, i.e. of Rome, when Commode was assassinated. Without its implication in the murder of Convenient being certain, it seemed the right man for the job and was carried to the capacity by the prefect of the court Laetus, on January 1st, 193.

Perhaps become emperor, it tried to restrict the official way of life, as Marc Aurèle did it. The Praetorian guard was disappointed weak Donativum which was granted to him and tried to replace it by Falco, but the attempt failed.

The March 28th 193, a group of soldiers, furious to have received only half of their pay, made irruption in the palate and killed Pertinax. Didius Julianus seized the power, which started a short civil war for the succession, finally gained by Septime Sévère the same year. If it could not really affirm a particular policy lasting its court reigns, it passed to the posterity like an emperor favorable to the senate and representative of the old Roman virtues.

Returned with Rome, this last recognized Pertinax as legitimate emperor, carried out his assassins, and forced the Senate to grant funeral of State to him. It also organized several years of continuation of the Jeu X for the birthday of its birth and its crowning.

Anecdotes

a street of Nice nowadays honors this emperor born in this area with the world.
the writer Nicolas Edme Restif of Breton the was persuaded that it went down from this emperor, with the reason that pertinax can be translated by “restive” into French.

Names and titles

Successive names

126, is born PVBLIVS•HELVIVS•PERTINAX
193, reaches the Empire: IMPERATOR•CAESAR•PVBLIVS•HELVIVS•PERTINAX•AVGVSTVS

Titles and magistratures

Consul in 175 and 192
Lord's Prayer patriae in 192

Titulature with its death

At the time of its assassination in 193 the titulature of Pertinax was:

Imp. Caes. P. Helvio/Pertinaci Aug. /cos. II, pontifici/maximo, trib. pot.,/p.p., principi SEN., fortissimo duci/and omnium vir/tuum principi, Capenates foeder. /pr. C. Licinio Sperando. - Dedicata XIII kal. April.,/cur. P. Sextilio Prospecto/and/. Mucio Muciano qq.,/Falcone and Claro cos.

'' C.I.L. '' , XI, 3873 = I.L.S. , 409. Capene (Etrurie southernmost)

" With the emperor César Publius Helvius Pertinax Auguste, consul for the 2nd time, large pontiff, in his first power tribunician, father of the fatherland, prince of the Senate, very valiant chief and prince of all the virtues, the inhabitants of Capène, federated, under the prefecture of Caius Licinius Sperandus. - Dedicated the 13 of the calends of April by the care of Publius Sextilius Leaflet and Lucius Mucius Mucianus, magistrates quinquennial, under the consulate of Falco and Clarus"

This base was thus dedicated on March 20th, 193, eight days before the death of the emperor.

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