Historia Augusta: Pertinax

I. 1 Publi(c)o Helvio Pertinaci pater libertinus Helvius Successus fuit, qui filio nomen ex continuatione lanariae negotiationis, quod pertinaciter eam rem generet, inpossuisse fatetur. 2 Natus est Pertinax in Appennino in villa matris. equus pullus ea hora, qua natus est, in tegulas ascendit atque ibi breviter commoratus decidit exspiravit.

1. 1 The father of Publi(c)us Helvius Pertinax was the freedman Helvius Successus, who admits that he imposed the name upon his son from the continuance of the wool-trade, because he conducted that business pertinaciously. 2 Pertinax was born in the Apennines, in his mother’s villa. A foal at the hour in which he was born climbed onto the roof-tiles and, having tarried there briefly, fell down and expired.

3 Hac re motus pater ad Chaldaeum venit. Qui cum illi futura ingentia praedixisset, stipem se perdidisse dixit. 4 Puer litteris elementariis et calculo inbutus, datus etiam Graeco grammatico atque inde Sulpicio Apollinari, post quem idem Pertinax grammaticen professus est.

3 Moved by this matter, his father came to a Chaldean. When he had predicted to him immense future things, he said that he had lost his fee. 4 As a boy, having been imbued with elementary letters and with calculation, he was also given to a Greek grammarian and thence to Sulpicius Apollinaris, after whom the same Pertinax professed grammar.

5 Sed cum in ea minus quaestus proficeret, per Lollianum Avitum, consularem virum, patris patronum, ducendi ordinis dignitatem petit. 6 Dein praefectus cohortis in Syriam profectus, Tito Aurelio imperatore a praeside Syriae, quod sine diplomatibus cursum usurpaverat, pedibus ab Antiochia ad legationem suam iter facere coactus est.

5 But since he was profiting less in that line of gain, through Lollianus Avitus, a consular man, his father’s patron, he sought the dignity of leading a unit. 6 Then, having set out to Syria as prefect of a cohort, under the emperor Titus Aurelius, by the governor of Syria—because he had usurped the cursus without diplomas—he was forced to make the journey on foot from Antioch to his legation.

II. 1 Bello Parthico industria sua pro meritus in Brittaniam translatus ea cretentus. Post in Moesia rexit alam. 2 Deinde alimentis dividendis in via Aemilia procuravit.

2. 1 In the Parthian War, for his deserts through his own industry, he was transferred to Britain, advanced by these. Afterwards in Moesia he commanded a cavalry ala. 2 Then he served as procurator for distributing provisions on the Via Aemilia.

Inde clasem Germanicam rexit. 3 Mater eum usque in Germaniam prosecuta est ibique obiit; cuius etiam sepulchrum stare nunc dicitur. 4 Inde ad ducenum sestertiorum stipendium translatus in Daciam suspectusque a Marco quorundam impar artibus remotus est et postea per Claudium Pompeianum, generum Marci, quasi adiutor eius futurus vexillis regendis adscitus est.

Thence he commanded the German fleet. 3 His mother escorted him as far as Germany and there died; whose sepulcher is said even now to stand. 4 Thence, transferred to a stipend of two hundred thousand sesterces, into Dacia, and, suspected by Marcus as unequal to the arts of certain men, he was removed, and afterwards, through Claudius Pompeianus, the son-in-law of Marcus, as if he would be his adjutant for directing the vexilla, he was enrolled.

5 In quo munere adprobatus lectus est in senatum. 6 Postea iterum re bene gesta prodita est factio, quae illi concinnata fuerat, Marcusque imperator, ut conpensaret iniuriam, praetorium eum fecit et primae legioni regendae inposuit, statimque Raetias et Noricum ab hosti vindicavit. 7 Ex quo eminente industria studio Marci imperatoris consul est designatus.

5 In which office, being approved, he was elected into the Senate. 6 Afterwards, the affair having been well conducted, a faction, which had been contrived against him, was exposed; and Emperor Marcus, so as to compensate the injury, made him of praetorian rank and placed him in command of the First Legion, and at once he recovered Raetia and Noricum from the enemy. 7 From this outstanding industry, through the zeal of Emperor Marcus, he was designated consul.

8 Extat oratio apud Marium Maximum laudes eius continens et omnia, vel quae fecit vel quae perpessus est. 9 Et praeter illam orationem, quam longum fuit conectere, saepissime Pertinax a Marco et in contione militari et in senatu laudatus est, doluitque palam Marcus quod senator esset, praef. praet.

8 There exists an oration in Marius Maximus containing his praises and everything, both what he did and what he suffered. 9 And besides that oration, which was lengthy to weave together, Pertinax was most often praised by Marcus both in the military assembly and in the senate, and Marcus openly grieved that he was a senator rather than prefect of the praetorium.

fieri a se non posse. 10 Cassiano motu conposito e Syria ad Danubii tutelam profectus est atque inde Moesiae utriusque, mox Daciae regimen accepit. 11 Bene gestis his provinciis Syriam meruit.

that it could not be done by himself. 10 With the Cassian revolt settled, he set out from Syria for the guardianship of the Danube, and from there received the governance of both Moesias, soon of Dacia. 11 With these provinces well managed, he earned Syria.

III. 1 Integre se usque ad Syriae regimen Pertinax tenuit. Post excessum Marci pecuniae studuit; quare etiam dictis popularibus lacessitus.

3. 1 Pertinax kept himself upright all the way up to the governorship of Syria. After the passing of Marcus, he pursued money; wherefore he was also assailed by popular taunts.

2 Curiam Romanam post quattuor provincias consulares, quia consulatu absens gesserat, iam dives ingressus est, cum eam senator antea non vidisset. 3 Iussus est praeterea statim a Perenne in Liguriam secedere in villam paternam; nam pater eius tabernam coactiliariam in Liguria exercuerat. 4 Sed posteaquam in Liguriam venit, multis agris coemptis tabernam manente forma priore infinitis aedificiis circumdedit; fuitque illic per triennium et mercatus est per suos servos.

2 He entered the Roman Curia, after four consular provinces, since he had borne the consulship in absence, now wealthy, although as a senator he had not previously seen it. 3 Moreover, he was immediately ordered by Perennis to withdraw into Liguria to his paternal villa; for his father had operated a felt-goods shop in Liguria. 4 But after he came into Liguria, many fields having been purchased, with the shop’s earlier form remaining, he surrounded it with countless buildings; and he was there for three years and traded through his own slaves.

5 Occiso sane Perenni Commodus Pertinaci satisfecit eumque petit <per> litteras, ut ad Brittanniam proficisceretur. 6 Profectusque milites ab omni seditione deterruit, cum illi quem cum imperatorem vellent haberet ipsum specialiter Pertinacem. 7 Tunc Pertinax malivolentiae notam subit, quod dictus est insimulasse apud Commodum adfectati imperii Antistium Burrum et Arrium Antoninum.

5 After Perennius had indeed been slain, Commodus made satisfaction to Pertinax and asked him by letters to set out to Britain. 6 And having set out, he deterred the soldiers from every sedition, since, for the one whom they wished to have as emperor, they had Pertinax himself in particular. 7 Then Pertinax incurred the mark of malevolence, because he was said to have accused before Commodus Antistius Burrus and Arrius Antoninus of an attempted seizure of imperial power.

8 Et seditiones quidem contra Commodum ipse conpescuit in Brittannia, verum ingens periculum adit seditione legionis paene occisus, certe inter occisos relictus. 9 Quam quidem rem idem Pertinax acerrime vindicavit. 10 Denique postea veniam legationis petit dicens sibi ob defensam disciplinam infestas esse legiones.

8 And indeed he himself quelled the seditions against Commodus in Britain, but he incurred a vast peril, in a mutiny of the legion nearly slain, certainly left among the slain. 9 This matter, indeed, the same Pertinax most fiercely avenged. 10 Finally, afterward he sought leave from his legation, saying that the legions were hostile to him on account of discipline having been defended.

IV. 1 Accepto successore alimentorum ei cura mandata est. 2 Dein pro consule Africae factus est. In quo proconsulatu multas seditiones perpessus dicitur vaticinationibus canum, quae templo Caelestis emergunt.

4. 1 With a successor having been received, the care of the alimenta was entrusted to him. 2 Then he was made proconsul of Africa. In which proconsulship he is said to have undergone many seditions because of the vaticinations of the dogs which emerge from the Temple of Caelestis.

Post hoc praef. urbi factus. 3 In qua praefectura post Fuscianum, hominem severum, Pertinax mitissimus et humanissimus fuit et ipsi Commodo plurimum placuit, quia - illi esse iterum consul Pertinax factus est.

After this he was made prefect of the city. 3 In which prefecture, after Fuscianus, a severe man, Pertinax was very mild and most humane, and he pleased Commodus himself very much, because — for him, to be consul again, Pertinax was made.

4 Tunc Pertinax interficiendi Commodi conscientiam delatam sibi ab aliis non fugit. 5 Commodo autem interempto Laetus praef. praet.

4 Then Pertinax did not shrink from complicity in the killing of Commodus, which had been reported to him by others. 5 With Commodus, however, slain, Laetus was made praetorian prefect.

et Eclectus cubicularius ad eum venerunt, ut eum confirmarent, atque in castra duxerunt. 6 Illic Pertinax milites adlocutus est, donativum promisit, ingeri sibi imperium a Laeto et Eclecto dixit. 7 Fictum est autem, quod morbo esset Commodus extinctus, quia et milites, ne temptarentur, pertimescebant.

and Eclectus the chamberlain came to him, to strengthen him, and they led him into the camp. 6 There Pertinax addressed the soldiers, promised a donative, said that the imperial power was being thrust upon him by Laetus and Eclectus. 7 It was feigned, moreover, that Commodus had died of illness, because the soldiers too were greatly afraid, lest they be tempted.

Denique a paucis primum est Pertinax imperator appellatus. 8 Factus est autem sexagenario maior imp(erator) p(ridie) kal.Ian. 9 De castris nocte cum ad senatum venisset et cellam curiae iussisset aperiri, neque inveniretur aedituus, in templo Concordiae resedit.

Finally, by a few at first, Pertinax was hailed as emperor. 8. Moreover, he became emperor, past sixty years of age, on the day before the Kalends of January (December 31). 9. When from the camp by night he had come to the senate and had ordered the chamber of the Curia to be opened, and the temple-warden could not be found, he took his seat in the Temple of Concord.

10 Et cum ad eum Claudius Pompeianus, gener Mar(i)ci, venisset casumque Commodi lacrimasset, hortatus Pertinax, ut imperium sumeret. Sed ille recusavit, quia iam imperatorem Pertinacem videbat. 11 Statim ergo omnis magistratus cum consule ad curiam venerunt ingre Pertinacem nocte imperatorem appellaverunt.

10 And when Claudius Pompeianus, the son-in-law of Marcus, had come to him and had wept over the fall of Commodus, Pertinax urged him to assume the imperium. But he refused, because he already saw Pertinax as emperor. 11 Straightway therefore the whole magistracy with the consul came to the Curia; having entered, they hailed Pertinax emperor in the night.

V. 1 Ipse autem Pertinax post laudes suas a consulibus dictas et post vituperationem Commodi adclamationibus senatus ostensam egit gratias senatui et praecipue Laeto, praefecto praetorii, quo auctore et Commodus interemptus et ipse imperator est factus. 2 Sed cum Laeto gratias egisset Pertinax, Falco consul dixit : " Qualis imperator es futurus, hinc intellegimus, quod Laetum et Marciam ministros scelerum Commodi, post te videmus." 3 Cui Pertinax respondit : " Iuvenis es consul nec parendi scis necessitates. Paruerunt inviti Commodo, sed ubi habuerunt facultatem, quid semper voluerint, ostenderunt." 4 Eadem die, qua Augustus est appellatus, et Flavia Titiana uxor eius Augusta est appellata, his horis quibus ille in Capitolio vota solvebat.

5. 1 However, Pertinax himself, after his praises had been spoken by the consuls and after the vilification of Commodus had been shown by the acclamations of the senate, gave thanks to the senate and especially to Laetus, the prefect of the praetorian guard, at whose instigation both Commodus was slain and he himself was made emperor. 2 But when Pertinax had given thanks to Laetus, the consul Falco said : " What sort of emperor you will be, from this we understand, that we see Laetus and Marcia, ministers of Commodus’s crimes, behind you." 3 To him Pertinax replied : " You are a young consul, and you do not know the necessities of obeying. They obeyed Commodus unwillingly, but when they had the opportunity, they showed what they had always wished." 4 On the same day on which he was entitled Augustus, Flavia Titiana, his wife, also was entitled Augusta, at the very hours at which he was fulfilling his vows on the Capitol.

5 Primus sane omnium ea die, qua Augustus est appellatus, etiam patris patriae nomen recepit, 6 (nec) simul etiam imperium proconsulare nec <non> ius quartae relationis; quod ominis loco fuit Pertinaci. 7 Ad Palatium ergo Pertinax profectus, quod tunc vacuum erat, quia Commodus in Vectilianis occisus est, petenti signum prima die tribuno dedit "militemus" exprobrans utique segnitiam temporum superiorum; quod quidem etiam ante in omnibus ducatibus dederat.

5 He, indeed, was the first of all, on the day on which he was entitled Augustus, also to receive the name Father of the Fatherland; 6 (nor) at the same time also the proconsular imperium and <not> the right of the fourth relation; which was in the place of an omen for Pertinax. 7 Therefore Pertinax set out to the Palatium, which was then empty, because Commodus had been slain at the Vectilian, and to the tribune asking for the watchword on the first day he gave “let us serve as soldiers,” plainly reproaching the sluggishness of the former times; which indeed he had also given before in all commands.

VI. 1 Exprobrationem autem istam milites non tulerunt statimque de imperatore mutando cogitarunt. 2 Ea die etiam ad convivium magistratus et proceres senatus rogavit quam consuetudinem Commodus praetermiserat. 3 Sane cum postero kalendarum die statuae Commodi deicerentur, gemuerunt milites, simul quia iterum signum idem dederat imperator.

CHAPTER 6. 1 But the soldiers did not endure that exprobration, and immediately they began to think about changing the emperor. 2 On that day too he invited to a banquet the magistrates and the chief men of the senate, a custom which Commodus had omitted. 3 Indeed, when on the day after the Kalends the statues of Commodus were cast down, the soldiers groaned, at the same time because the emperor had given the same watchword again.

Timebatur autem militia sub sene imperatore. 4 Denique tertium nonarum diem Votis ipsis milites Triarium Maternum Lascivium, senatorem nobilem, ducere in castra voluerunt, ut eum rebus Romanis inponerent. 5 Sed ille nudus fugit atque ad Pertinacem in Palatium venit et post ex urbe decessit.

Moreover, military service was feared under an old emperor. 4 Finally, on the third day of the Nones, on the very Vows-day, the soldiers wished to lead Triarius Maternus Lascivius, a noble senator, into the camp, so that they might set him over Roman affairs. 5 But he fled naked and came to Pertinax in the Palatium, and afterward departed from the city.

6 Timore sane Pertinax coactus omnia, quae Commodus militibus et veteranis dederat, confirmavit. 7 Suscipere se etiam imperium a senatu dixit, quod iam sponte inierat. 8 Quaestionem maiestatis penitus tulit cum iureiurando, revocavit etiam eos, qui deportati fuerant crimine maiestatis, eorum memoria restituta, qui occisi fuerant.

6 Indeed, under fear, Pertinax, being compelled, confirmed all the things which Commodus had given to the soldiers and the veterans. 7 He said that he would also assume the imperium from the senate, which he had already undertaken of his own accord. 8 He entirely removed the quaestio of maiestas (treason) with an oath, and he also recalled those who had been deported on the charge of maiestas, with the memory restored of those who had been killed.

9 Filium eius senatus Caesarem appellavit. Sed Pertinax nec uxoris Augustae appellationem recepit et de filio dixit : "Cum meruerit". 10 Et cum Commodus allectionibus innumeris praetorias miscuisset, senatus consultum Pertinax fecit iussitque eos, qui praeturas non gessissent sed allectione accepissent, post eos esse, qui vere praetores fuissent. 11 Sed hinc quoque grande odium sibi multorum commovit.

9 The senate called his son Caesar. But Pertinax accepted neither the appellation of Augusta for his wife, and about his son he said : "When he has merited it." 10 And whereas Commodus had by innumerable adlections thrown the praetorships into confusion, Pertinax made a senatus consultum and ordered that those who had not held praetorships but had received them by adlection should be after those who had truly been praetors. 11 But from this too he stirred up great hatred of many against himself.

Census retractari iussit.

He ordered the census to be reviewed.

VII. 1 Delatores cunctos graviter puniri iussit et tamen mollius quam priores imperatores, unicuique dignitati, si delationis crimen incurreret, poenam statuens. 2 Legem sane tulit, ut testamenta priora non prius essent inrita quam alia perfecta essent, neve ob hoc fiscus aliquando succederet; 3 ipseque professus est nullius se aditurum hereditatem, quae aut adulatione alicuius delata esset aut lite (aut) perplexa, ut legitimi heredes et necessarii privarentur.

7. 1 He ordered all delators to be punished gravely, and yet more mildly than prior emperors, establishing a penalty for each dignity, if it should incur the crime of delation. 2 He did indeed carry a law, that prior testaments should not be void before other ones had been perfected, and that on this account the fisc should never succeed; 3 and he himself professed that he would enter upon no one’s inheritance which had been proffered by someone’s adulation or was entangled in a lawsuit (or) perplexed, so that lawful and necessary heirs might not be deprived.

Addiditque senatus consulto haec verba : 4 " Satius est, p.c., inopem rem p. optinere quam ad divitiarum cumulum per discriminum atque dedecorum vestigia pervenire." 5 Donativa et congiaria, quae Commodus promiserat, solvit. 6 Annonae consultissime providit. Et cum tantam penuriam aerarii haberet, ut praeter decies sestertium non se invenisse fateretur, coactus est ea exigere, quae Commodus indixerat, contra quam professus fuerat.

He added also to the senatorial decree these words : 4 " It is better, Conscript Fathers, to hold the republic needy than to arrive at a heap of riches through the tracks of dangers and disgraces." 5 He paid the donatives and congiaries which Commodus had promised. 6 He provided for the grain-supply with utmost prudence. And since he had such a penury of the treasury that he confessed he had found nothing except 1,000,000 sesterces, he was forced to exact those things which Commodus had imposed, contrary to what he had professed.

7 Denique adgressus eum Lollianus Gentianus consularis, quod contra promissum faceret, necessitatis rationem accepit. 8 Auctionem rerum Commodi habuit, ita ut et pueros et concubinas vendi iuberet, exceptis his qui per vim Palatio videbantur inserti. 9 Et de his, quos vendi iussit, multi postea reducti ad ministerium oblectarunt senem.

7 Finally, Lollianus Gentianus, a consular, having approached him, because he was acting contrary to his promise, accepted the rationale of necessity. 8 He held an auction of the goods of Commodus, such that he ordered even boys and concubines to be sold, except those who seemed to have been thrust upon the Palace by force. 9 And of those whom he ordered to be sold, many, later brought back to service, entertained the old man.

Quidam per alios principes usque ad senatorim dignitatem pervenerunt. 10 Scurras turpissimorum nominum dedecora perferentes proscripsit ac vendidit. 11 Cuius nundinationis pecuniam, quae ingens fuit, militibus donativo dedit.

Some, through other emperors, came even to senatorial dignity. 10 He proscribed and sold the buffoons, bearing the disgraces of the most shameful names. 11 The money of that sale, which was enormous, he gave to the soldiers as a donative.

VIII. 1 A libertis etiam ea exegit, quibus Commodo vendente ditati fuerant. 2 Auctio sane rerum Commodi in his insignior fuit : vestis subtegmine serico aureis filis (insignior) prae>er tunicas paenulasque lacernas et chirodytas Dalmatarum et cirratas militares purpureasque clamydes Graecanicas atque castrenses, 3 et cuculli Bardaici et saga armaque gladiatoria gemmis auroque composita 4 et maceras Herculaneas et torques gladiatorias vasaque electro, auro, ebore, argento vitroque composita 5 atque etiam phando vitrobuli ex materie eadem et vasa Samnitica calfactandae resinae ac pici devellendis hominibus ac leviginandis.

8. 1 He also exacted from the freedmen those sums by which, while Commodus was selling, they had been enriched. 2 The auction, to be sure, of Commodus’s belongings was more noteworthy in these items: clothing with a silk weft with golden threads, besides tunics and paenulae, lacernae and the chirodytae of the Dalmatians, and tasseled military garments, and purple Greek and camp chlamydes, 3 and Bardaic cowls and saga, and gladiatorial arms adorned with gems and gold; 4 he sold also Herculean maces and gladiatorial torques, and vessels fashioned of electrum, gold, ivory, silver, and glass; 5 and even phials and glass-bowls of the same material, and Samnite vessels for heating resin and pitch for plucking men and for levigating them.

6 Nec non vehicula arte fabricae nova perplexis diversisque rotarum orbibus et exquisitis sedilibus nunc ad solem declinandum nunc ad spiritus opportunitatem per vertiginem; 7 et alia iter metientia horasque monstrantia et cetera vitiis eius convenientia. 8 Reddidit praeterea dominis eos, qui se exprivatis domibus in aulam contulerant. 9 Convivium imperatorium ex inmenso ad certum revocavit modum.

6 And likewise vehicles, new by the craftsman’s art, with intricately interwoven and diverse circuits of wheels and with exquisite seats—now for declining the sun, now for the opportunity of breezes—by a revolving motion; 7 and others measuring the journey and showing the hours, and the rest fitting his vices. 8 He furthermore restored to their masters those who had transferred themselves from private households into the palace. 9 He recalled the imperial banquet from the immense to a fixed measure.

10 Sumptus etiam omnes Commodi recidit. Exemplo autem imperatoris, cum ille parcius se ageret, ex omnium continentia vilitas nata est; 11 nam imperatorium sumptum pulsis non necessariis ad soliti dimidium detraxit.

10 He also cut back all of Commodus’s expenses. Moreover, by the emperor’s example, since he conducted himself more parsimoniously, from everyone’s continence a cheapness arose; 11 for he reduced the imperial expenditure, with the non-necessaries driven out, to half of the usual.

IX. 1 Praemia militantibus posuit. Aes alienum, quod primo imperii tempore contraxerat, solvit. Aerarium in suum statum restituit.

9. 1 He established rewards for the soldiers. He paid the debt which he had contracted at the beginning of his reign. He restored the treasury to its proper condition.

2 Ad opera publica certum sumptum constituit. Reformandis viis pecuniam contulit. Stipendia plurimis retro debita exolvit.

2 He established a fixed outlay for public works. He contributed money for the re-forming of roads. He discharged stipends long in arrears to very many.

Obeundis postremo cunctis muneribus fiscum parem fecit. 3 Alimentaria etiam conpendia, quae novem annorum ex instituto Traiani debebantur, obdurata verecundia sustulit. 4 Avaritiae suspicione privatus non caruit, cum aput vada Sabatia oppressis fenore possessoribus latius suos tenderet fines.

At last, for discharging all duties, he made the treasury equal to them. 3 He also removed the alimentary allowances, which for nine years were owed by the institution of Trajan, with his modesty steeled. 4 As a private man he did not lack the suspicion of avarice, when at the shallows of Sabatia, with the landholders oppressed by usury, he stretched his own boundaries more broadly.

5 Denique ex versu Luciliano agrarius mergus est appellatus. 6 Multi autem eum etiam in provinciis, quas consularis gessit, sordide se egisse in litteras rettulere; nam vacationes et legationes militares dicitur vendidisse. 7 Denique cum parentum minimum esset patrimonium et nulla hereditas obvenisset, subito dives est factus.

5 Finally, from a Lucilian verse he was called an agrarian mergus (cormorant). 6 Moreover many committed to letters that he also conducted himself sordidly in the provinces which he administered as a consular governor; for he is said to have sold exemptions and military legations. 7 Finally, since the patrimony from his parents was very small and no inheritance had come to him, he suddenly became rich.

8 Omnibus sane possessiones suas reddidit, quibus Commodus ademerat, sed non sine pretio. 9 Senatui legitimo semper inter fuit ac semper aliquid rettulit. Civilem se salutantibus et interpellantibus semper exhibuit.

8 To all indeed he restored their possessions, from whom Commodus had taken them, but not without a price. 9 He always took part in the lawful Senate and always referred something. He always showed himself civil to those greeting and interrupting him.

Eos, qui calumniis adpetiti per servos fuerant, damnatis (servis) delatoribus liberavit in crucem sublatis talibus servis, aliquos etiam mortuos vindicavit.

He freed those who had been assailed by calumnies through slaves, the delator-slaves condemned and such slaves raised to the cross; he even vindicated some who were dead.

X. 1 Insidias paravit ei Falco - conquestus est in senatu - volens imperare. 2 Quo quidem - credidit, dum sibi quidam servus, quasi Fabiae - setiqui filius ex Ceioni Commodi familia, Palatinam domum ridicule vindicasset - cognitusque iussus est flagellis caesus domino restitui. 3 In cuius vindicta hi, qui oderant Pertinacem, occasionem seditionis invenisse dicuntur.

10. 1 Falco prepared treachery against him—he complained of it in the senate—wishing to rule. 2 Whereupon indeed—he believed it, when a certain slave, as though the son of Fabia—and of Setius—from the family of Ceionius Commodus, had ridiculously claimed the Palatine house for himself—and, being recognized, he was ordered, beaten with whips, to be restored to his master. 3 In whose punishment those who hated Pertinax are said to have found an occasion for sedition.

4 Falconi tamen pepercit et a senatu inpunitatem eius petit. 5 Denique Falco in rebus suis securus vixit et herede filio periit. 6 Quamvis multi Falconem nescisse dixerint imperium sibi parari.

4 Nevertheless he spared Falco and sought from the senate his impunity. 5 Finally, Falco lived secure in his own affairs and perished with his son as heir. 6 Although many said that Falco had not known that imperial power was being prepared for him.

7 Alii etiam servis, qui rationes interverterant, falsis testimoniis adpetitum eum esse dixerunt. 8 Sed Pertinaci factio praeparata est per Laetum praefectum praetorii et eos, quos Pertinacis sanctimonia offenderat. 9 Laetum enim paenituerat, quod imperatorem fecerat Pertinacem, idcirco quia eum velut stultum intimatorem nonnullarum rerum reprehendebat.

7 Others also said that by slaves who had tampered with the accounts he was assailed by false testimonies. 8 But a faction against Pertinax was prepared by Laetus, the praetorian prefect, and by those whom Pertinax’s sanctimony had offended. 9 For Laetus had repented that he had made Pertinax emperor, for this reason: because he was blaming him as a foolish intimator of certain matters.

10 Grave praeterea militibus visum, quod in causa Falconis multos milites ad unius servi testimonium occidi praeceperat.

Moreover, it seemed grievous to the soldiers that, in the case of Falco, he had ordered many soldiers to be killed on the testimony of a single slave.

XI. 1 Trecenti igitur de castris armati ad imperatorias aedes cuneo milites venere. 2 Eadem tamen die immolante Pertinace negatur in hostia cor repertuet cum id vellet procurare, caput extorum non deprehendit. Et tunc quidem omnes milites in castris manebant.

11. 1 Three hundred, therefore, armed, from the camp, soldiers came to the imperatorial residence in a wedge. 2 On the same day, however, as Pertinax was sacrificing, it is denied that a heart was found in the victim; and when he wished to procure expiation for that, he did not detect the head of the entrails. And at that time indeed all the soldiers were remaining in the camp.

3 Qui cum castris ad obsequium principis convenissent et Pertinax eo die processionem, <quam> ad Athenaeum paraverat, ut audiret poetam, ob sacrificii praesagium distulisset, hi, qui ad obsequium venerant, redire in castra coeperunt. 4 Sed subito globus ille in Palatium pervenit neque aut arceri potu aut imperatori nuntiari. 5 Enimvero tantum odium in Pertinacem omnium aulicorum fuit, ut ad facinus milites hortarentur.

3 When they had assembled from the camp for the attendance of the emperor, and Pertinax on that day, on account of the presage of the sacrifice, had deferred the procession which he had prepared to the Athenaeum to hear a poet, those who had come for attendance began to return to the camp. 4 But suddenly that crowd reached the Palatium, and it could neither be warded off nor reported to the emperor. 5 Indeed, so great was the hatred of all the courtiers toward Pertinax that they exhorted the soldiers to the crime.

6 Supervenerunt Pertinaci, cum ille aulicum famulitium ordinaret, ingressique porticus Palatii usque ad locum, qui appellatur Sicilia et Iovis cenatio. 7 Hoc cognito Pertinax Laetum praef. praet.

6 They came upon Pertinax, while he was arranging the court household staff, and, having entered the porticoes of the Palace, up to the place which is called the Sicilia and the dining-room of Jupiter. 7 On learning this, Pertinax summoned Laetus, the praetorian prefect.

ad eos misit. Sed ille declinatis militibus per porticus egressus adoperto capite domum se contulit. 8 Verum cum ad interiora prorumperent, Pertinax ad eos processit eosque longa et gravi oratione placavit.

he sent him to them. But he, having avoided the soldiers, went out through the porticoes and, with his head covered, betook himself home. 8 But when they were breaking through to the inner rooms, Pertinax went forth to them and appeased them with a long and weighty oration.

9 Sed cum Tausius quidam, unus e Tungris, in iram et in timorem milites loquendo adduxisset, hastam inpectus Pertinacis obiecit. 10 Tunc ille precatus Iovem Ultorem toga caput operuit atque a ceteris confossus est. 11 Et Eclectus quidem confossis duobus cum eodem perit, 12 reliqui autem cubicularii palatini (nam suos statim, ut imperator factus est, filiis emancipatis dederat) diffugerunt.

9 But when a certain Tausius, one of the Tungri, by speaking had brought the soldiers into anger and fear, he hurled a spear into the chest of Pertinax. 10 Then he, having prayed to Jupiter the Avenger, covered his head with his toga and was run through by the rest. 11 And Eclectus indeed, after stabbing two, perished together with him, 12 but the remaining palatine chamberlains (for he had immediately, when he was made emperor, assigned his own to his emancipated sons) scattered in flight.

13 Multi sane dicunt etiam cubiculum milites inrupisse atque illic circa lectum fugientem Pertinacem occidisse.

Many indeed say that the soldiers also broke into the bedchamber and there, around the bed, killed Pertinax as he was fleeing.

XII. 1 Fuit autem senex venerabilis, inmissa barba, reflexo capillo, habitudine corporis pinguiore, ventre prominulo, statura imperatoria, eloque mediocri et magis blandus quam benignus nec umquam creditus simplex. 2 Et cum verbis esset affabilis, re erat inliberalis ac prope sordidus, ut dimidiatas lactucas et cardus in privata vita conviviis adponeret.

12. 1 He was, moreover, a venerable old man, with an untrimmed beard, hair swept back, a stouter bodily habit, a somewhat prominent belly, of imperial stature, and with mediocre eloquence, and more ingratiating than benevolent, nor ever believed guileless. 2 And though in words he was affable, in reality he was illiberal and nearly sordid, so that in his private life he would set at banquets halved lettuces and cardoons.

3 Et nisi quid missum esset edulium, quotquot essent amici, novem libras carnis per tres missus ponebat. 4 Si autem plus aliquid missum esset, etiam in alium diem differebat, cum semper ad convivium multos vocaret. 5 Imperator etiam, si sine convivis esset, eadem consuetudine cenitabat.

3 And unless some dish of food had been sent in, however many friends there were, he would set out nine pounds of meat over three courses. 4 But if something more had been sent in, he would even postpone it to another day, since he always invited many to the banquet. 5 Even as emperor, if he was without dinner-guests, he used to dine with the same custom.

6 Amicis si quando de prandio suo mittere voluit, misit offulas binas aut omasi partem, aliquando lumbos gallinacios. Fasianum numquam privato convivio comedit aut alicui misit. 7 Cum sine amicis cenaret, adhibebat uxorem suam et Valerianum, qui cum eodem docuerat, <ut> fabulas litteratas haberet.

6 When he ever wished to send something from his luncheon to his friends, he sent two little morsels or a portion of omasum (tripe), sometimes loins of chicken. He never ate a pheasant at a private banquet nor sent one to anyone. 7 When he dined without friends, he would bring in his wife and Valerianus, who had taught with him, <ut> he might have literate tales.

8 Sane nullum ex his, quos Commodus rebus gerendis inposuerat, mutavit, expectans urbis natalem, quod eum diem rerum principium volebat esse, atque ideo etiam in balneis ei Commodiani ministri necem parasse dicuntur.

8 Indeed, none of those whom Commodus had imposed for managing affairs did he change, awaiting the natal day of the City, because he wanted that day to be the beginning of affairs; and therefore also in the baths the Commodian attendants are said to have prepared death for him.

XIII. 1 Imperium et omnia imperialia sic horruit, ut sibi semper ostenderet displicere. Denique non alium se, quam fuerat, videri volebat.

13. 1 He so abhorred the imperium and all imperial things, that he always showed that they were displeasing to him. Finally, he did not wish to seem other than he had been.

2 Fuit in curia honorificentissimus, ita ut senatum faventem adoraret et quasi praefectus urbi cum omnibus sermonem participaret. 3 Voluit etiam imperium deponere atque ad privatam vitam redire. 4 Filios suos in Palatio nutriri noluit.

2 He was most honorific in the Curia, so that he would adore the favoring senate and, as if a prefect of the city, would participate in conversation with all. 3 He even wished to lay down the imperium and to return to private life. 4 He did not wish his sons to be nourished in the Palace.

Tam parcus autem et tam lucri cupidus fuit, ut apud Vada Sabatia mercaturas exerecuerit imp(erator) per homines suos, non aliter quam privatus solebat. 5 Nec multum tamen amatus est, si quidem omnes, qui libere fabulas conferebant, male Pertinacem loquebantur, chrestologum eum appellantes, qui bene loqueretur et male faceret. 6 Nam et cives sui, qui ad eum confluxerant iam imperatorem et nihil de eo meruerant, sic eum appellabant.

So sparing and so desirous of lucre was he, that at Vada Sabatia he carried on trade as emperor through his own men, no otherwise than he used to as a private citizen. 5 Yet he was not much loved, since indeed all who freely exchanged tales spoke ill of Pertinax, calling him a chrestologus, one who would speak well and do ill. 6 For even his fellow citizens, who had flocked to him when he was already emperor and had earned nothing from him, called him thus.

Munera quoque lucri libidine libenter accepit. 7 Reliquit filium et filiam superstites et uxorem, Flavi Sulpiciani filiam, quem praef. urbi loco suo fecerat.

He also gladly accepted gifts, out of a lust for lucre. 7 He left surviving a son and a daughter, and a wife, the daughter of Flavius Sulpicianus, whom he had made prefect of the city in his own place.

8 Circa uxoris pudicitiam minus curiosus fuit, cum palam citharoedum illa diligeret. Ipse praeterea Cornificiam infamissime dicitur dilexisse. 9 Libertos aulicos vehementissime conpressit, unde grande quoque odium contraxit.

8 Around his wife’s pudicity he was less scrupulous, since she openly loved a citharoedus. He himself, moreover, is said to have loved Cornificia most infamously. 9 He most vehemently suppressed the court freedmen, whence he also contracted great hatred.

XIV. 1 Signa interitus haec fuerunt : ipse ante triduum quam occideretur in piscina sibi visus est videre hominem cum gladio infestantem. 2 Et ea die, qua occisus est, negabant in oculis eius pupulas cum imaginibus, quas reddunt spectantibus, visas.

14. 1 These were the signs of death : he himself, three days before he was slain, seemed to himself to see in the pool a man attacking with a sword. 2 And on the day on which he was killed, they said that in his eyes the pupils with the images, which they give back to those looking, were not seen.

3 Et cum apud lares sacrificaret, carbones vivacissimi extincti sunt, cum inflammari soleant. Et, ut supra dictum est, cor et caput in hostiis non est repertum. Stellae etiam iuxta solem per diem clarissimae visa ante diem quam obiret.

3 And when he was sacrificing at the Lares, the most vivacious coals were extinguished, although they are wont to be inflamed. And, as said above, the heart and the head were not found in the victims. Very bright stars too, near the sun, were seen by day before the day on which he passed away.

4 Et ipse omen de Iuliano successore dedisse dicitur. Nam cum ei Didius Iulianus fratis filium obtulisset, cui despondebat filiam suam, adhortatus (est) iuvenem ad patrui observationem, adiecit : "Observa collega et successorem meum"; 5 nam ante Iulianus ei et in consulatu collega fuerat et in proconsulatu successerat. 6 Milites eum et aulici odio habuerunt, populus mortem eius indigni tulit, quia videbat omnia per eum antiqua posse restitui.

4 And he himself is said to have given an omen about Julianus as successor. For when Didius Julianus had presented to him his brother’s son, to whom he was betrothing his daughter, he exhorted the youth to regard his paternal uncle, and added: "Observe my colleague and my successor"; 5 for previously Julianus had been his colleague in the consulate and had succeeded him in the proconsulate. 6 The soldiers and the courtiers held him in hatred, the people bore his death with indignation, because they saw that all ancient things could be restored through him.

7 Caput eius conto fixum milites, qui eum occiderant, per urbem in castra pertulerunt. 8 Reliquiae eius recuperato capite in sepulchro avi uxoris locatae sunt. 9 Et Iulianus, successor illius, corpus eius quanto potuit honore funeratus est, cum id in Palatio repperisset.

7 His head, fixed on a pole, the soldiers who had killed him carried through the city into the camp. 8 His remains, the head having been recovered, were placed in the sepulcher of his wife’s grandfather. 9 And Julianus, his successor, gave his body a funeral with as much honor as he could, when he had found it in the Palace.

10 Qui numquam eius ullam mentionem vel apud populum vel apud senatum publice fecit, sed cum ipse quoque a militibus desertus iam esset, per senatum et populum Pertinax in deos relatus est.

10 He never made any mention of him publicly either before the people or before the senate; but when he himself too had already been deserted by the soldiers, through the senate and the people Pertinax was enrolled among the gods.

XV. 1 Sub Severo autem imperatore cum senatus ingens testimonium habuisset Pertinax, funus imaginarium ei et censorium ductum est, et ab ipso Severo funebri laudatione ornatus est. 2 Ipse autem Severus amore boni principis a senatu Pertinacis nomen accepit. 3 Filius Pertinacis patri flamen est factus.

15. 1 Under the emperor Severus, since Pertinax had had an immense testimony from the senate, an imaginary and censorial funeral was conducted for him, and he was adorned by Severus himself with a funeral laudation. 2 Severus himself, moreover, for love of the good princeps, received from the senate the name of Pertinax. 3 The son of Pertinax was made flamen to his father.

4 Marciani sodales, qui divi Marci sacra curabant, Helviani sunt dicti propter Helvium Pertinacem. 5 Circenses et imperii natalis additi, qui a Severo postea sublati sunt, et genitalicii, qui manent. 6 Natus autem kal.

4 The Marcian Sodales, who took care of the sacra of the deified Marcus, were styled the Helviani on account of Helvius Pertinax. 5 Circensian games and the natal day of the imperium were added, which were afterward removed by Severus, and the genitalicii, which remain. 6 Born, moreover, on the Kalends.

Augustis Vero et Bibulo conss. Interfectus est V kal. Apr.

In the consulship of the Augusti Verus and Bibulus, consuls. He was slain on the 5th day before the Kalends of April (March 28).

Falcone et Claro conss. Vixit annis LX mensibus VII diebus XXVI. Imperavit mensibus II diebus XXV.

Falco and Clarus, consuls. He lived 60 years, 7 months, 26 days. He ruled for 2 months, 25 days.

7 Congiarium dedit populo denarios centenos. Praetorianis promisit milia nummum, sed dedit sena. Quod exercitibus promissum est, datum non est, quia mors eum praevenit.

7 He gave the people a congiary, one hundred denarii each. To the Praetorians he promised thousands of sesterces, but he gave six (thousand). What had been promised to the armies was not given, because death forestalled him.

8 Horruisse autem illum imperium epistula docet, quae vitae illius a Mario Maximo apposita est. Quam ego inseri ob nimiam longitudinem nolui.

8 That he shuddered at the imperium an epistle shows, which has been appended to his Life by Marius Maximus. I did not wish to insert it on account of its excessive length.