Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 19 – Life 20
P. Helvius Pertinax,
WAS so called either for his reluctance in accepting the Empire, or |Quod longè verisimilius est, saith Boeclerus in Herodianum.rather for his pertinacious resolution in his youth to be a Wood-monger, as his father was, when he would have made him a Scholar.
Yet at last he was perswaded by his Father to apply himself to learning,He is reckoned by Barlandus among the learned Roman Emperors. in which he was such a proficient, that he succeeded his Master Sulpitius Apollinaris in the teaching of Grammer: but gaining little thereby,Xiphilinus in Commodo saith, he was skilful in Greek. he served in the Camp with such proof of his valour, that upon the death of Commodus he was chosen Emperor. For the murther being done in the night, Laetus went in all hast to Pertinax, and saluted him with the unexpected name of Emperor; but he thought Laetus was sent from Commodus to kill him, till he was certified of Commodus his death, by one of his servants whom he sent to view his carkass.
So different was the opinion of all men concerning Pertinax and Commodus, that many hearing of Commodus his death, thought the report was raised by himself to try mens inclinations; wherefore many Governors of Provinces imprisoned those who related it, not because they would not have had the news to be true, but for that they thought it more dangerous to believe the death of Commodus, than not to come in to Pertinax, by whom every one was confident that they should be easily pardoned, whereas with Commodus innocence gave no security. Excerpta Peiresci. p. 728.
Iulian the Apostate in his Caesars feigneth that Pertinax was admitted into the Banquet of the Gods, where he complained of his Assasinates. Nemesis commiserating him, saith they shall have small joy thereof; yet charged him that he seemed to be conscious of Commodus his death, or at least to approve of it.
Pertinax was forced to accept the Empire by Laetus and Electus, when he was above 60 years old; yet admitted not any symbol of sovereignty, and declined so envious a Title, till compelled by the Senate.
He chiefly refused the Empire, because he was to succeed a Tyrant, who by his disorders had so impoverisht the State, and rendred the Soldiers so loose, that he saw 'twas impossible to avoid a publick odium, by the use of a necessary remedy. Tristan.
He would not let his Wife receive the title of Empress,Sufficere inquit, debet, quod ego ipse invitus regnavi, quum non mererer. nor his son be called Caesar, as the Senate had decreed, lest he should be corrupted, but deferred it till he might deserve it; not admitting him being a youth into the Court,Iornandes. but causing him to lead a private life.
He permitted not his Name to be stamped on the peculiar goods of the Emperors, saying,That the propriety thereof belonged to the State in general. Herodian. l. 2. c. 4.
He enacted that all the wast ground in Italy and other Countries (though of the Princes demesn) should be improved and freely given to them who would manur… it: to which purpose, he granted to husbandmen 10 years immunity from all taxes, and security from all further trouble during his reign. Herodian.
He banished informers, preserved the commoners from the injury of Soldiers, and released all Imposts exacted by Tyrants. Id.
He never could be induced to revenge an injury. S. A. Victoris Epitome.
He was too negligent of his Wife Flavia Titiana's chastity, who openly loved a *In matronarum, etiam principum, amoribus, primas semper ferunt partes citharaedi; adeo per aures ad animum blandè influit vox duplex, oris fidiumque: capiunturque praterea oculi gesticulatione illa manuum irrequietarum. Gruterus.Fidler; he in the mean time being as ardently and infamously enamoured on his Concubine Cornificia. Capitolinus. c. 13.
He was called foreign, a giver of good words, because he was rather a fawning than a kind Prince; promising well but performing ill.
Such was his |Capitolinus negligentius dicam an sinisterius interdum de moribus ejus judicat. Boeclerus in Herodianum. p. 395.niggardliness, that he would set before his guests a Sallad of Lettuce divided into two parts; and except something were sent him, he would appoint nine pound weight of flesh unto three messes; and if any other dish happened to be presented to him, he caused it to be set up until the next day.Gruterus. He would send to his friends two morsels of meat, or part of a tripe, and for exceedings a leg or wing of a hen. Capitolinus in Pertinace. c. 12.
Tristan paralleleth him with Vespasian.
His strict discipline and short donatives displeased the Soldiers, who conspired against him, and elected Falco Emperor, whom the Senate sentenced, but Pertinax cryed out, God forbid, that during my reign any Senator be put to death, though deservedly. Xiphiline.
Laetus pretending to punish this sedition, caused the death of divers Soldiers, that the rest might mutiny, which they did, two hundred entring the Palace with drawn swords, whom Pertinax was advised to fly from: but he indiscreetly rejecting that good councel, met them, thinking with his Majesty to make them afraid and leave off their enterprise, which fell out accordingly; for immediately they all retreated, except one Tausius a Tungrian, who *Ter Consul, Commodi insidiis eripitur, ac diademate donatur, sed funesto, ut quo non totos tres menses potitus sit. Jac. Cappellus in cent. Eccles. Hist. p. 46.ran him into the breast, saying, Hunc tibi gladium milites mittunt.
Dio censureth him thus, Non norat homo multarum rerum peritus, multa simul tuto corrigi non posse: sed si quid aliud in rebus humanis, tum imprimis reipublicae constitutionem & tempus & sapientiam requirere.
He having endured all manner of labours, and being bandied from one extreme to another,P. Helvius Pertinax, iterum Consul, & adhuc privatus appellatur, Inscript. IV. p. 56. è qua simul convellitur id, quod aiunt, Pertinacem fuisse dictum, quod imperium Pertinaciter recusasset. was called the 'Tennisbal of fortune.
Pertinax, quamvis plerunque virtus militaris in agrestem feritatem, pacis industria in pusillanimitatem excedit, utra que laude praestabat, gravis bello, pace prudens. Et audaciam quidem cum virtute, adversus exteros & seditiosos: aequitatem vero cum justitia, erga populares & modestos adhibebat. Cumque provectus esset ad imperium orbis, non ita se imparem tali fastigio passus est deprehendi, ut modo humiliorem justo, modo insolentiorem se praeberet, Christ. Ad. Ruperti Observat. in minorem Besoldi Synopsin. p. 334.sed per omnia ab initio usque ad finem aequabili tenore usus, gravis fuit sine tristitia, comis sine humilitate, prudens sine calliditate, justus sine acerbitate, frugalis sine sorditie, magnanimus sine arrogantia. Excerpta Peiresci.
He lived 67 years lacking 4 months and 3 daies, and reigned 87 daies, saith Dio. lib. 73.
Hujusdem dignissima illa vox est, quae aureis literis scribatur in omnibus curiis ac palatiis: Satius est inopem rempub. obtinere, quam ad divitiarum cumulum per discriminum atque dedecorum vestigia pervenire. Christoph. Ad. Rupertus in Besoldi synop. min. p. 335.
His greatest fault was his ill husbandry; for as trees in their first growth are defended by bryars, which afterwards uncut up, overthrow the flourishing of the tree: so an unlawful elected Prince seldome escapes pulling down, by those that set him up; for covetousness being the cause of their combination, nothing can serve their unsatiable desires, nor be thought a sufficient recompence. Sir W. Cornwallis the younger in his Encomium of Iulian the Apostate.
Pertinacis Principatus solo tempore minor est optimi cujusque Principis regimine, saith Boeclerus in his dedicatory Epistle prefixed to Herodian; adding, Id quod etiam de Maximo & Balbino potest affirmari.
Being dead, it was decreed he should be called Divus; in whose praise with ingeminated shouts, till they were hoarse again, the people cryed out: Pertinace imperante securi viximus: neminem timuimus. Patri pio, Patri Senatus, Patri omnium bonorum. Victor's Epitome.
Helvi judicio & consulto lecte Senatus,
Princeps decretis prodite, non studiis.
Quod docuit malefida cohors, errore probato,
Curia quod castris cesserat Imperio.
Ausonius.
Didius Iulianus.
Mirè nugantur Georgius Monachus & Cedrenus, qui Didium foreign nuncupatum scribunt, quod magna pecuniae vi imperium esset mercatus. Christop. Adami Ruperti Observat. in mi norem Synopsin Besoldi, p. 337.SOLDIERS proclaiming the sale of the Empire, Iulian's wife and his daughters, with some Parasites, urged him to accept of the proffer, since he could exceed any in largesses. Herodian. l. 2. c. 6.
Sulpitian Father-in-law to Pertinax offered each Soldier 200 Crowns, but Iulian out-bidding him, and promising more than they demanded or expected, obtained the Empire of them; who feared lest Sulpitian might revenge Pertinax his death, as his Competitor suggested to them. Xiphiline.
Herodian justly complaineth of this Donative;Omittitur in serie Imperatorum a nonnullis Julianus, tum quia malo more imperium mercatus erat, tum quia statim res novae ipsum exceperunt, rectoribus provinciarum ejus imperium detrectantibus, donec rerum summa ad Severum pervenit. Intervallum ergo illud inter Pertinacis mortem, & Severi initia, certamina potius de Principatu, quàm Principatum habuit. Atque ita habemus causam cur & Julianus praetereatur, & Pertinacis imperio plures adjiciantur menses. Imperio, inquam, ejus nor vitae intervallum turbarum post mortem ejus exortarum contribuitur. Boeclerus in Herodianum p. 390. From this occasion and beginning, the Soldiers grew every day more shameless, and less regardful of their Prince: so that their covetousness encreasing, and the contempt they had of their Emperors waxing more and more, ended at last in their frequent shedding of their blood, in hope to have a better market of the next Successor.
Barlandus placeth Iulian among the learned Roman Princes.
He entered the City, all the Soldiers calling him Emperor, the Citizens neither daring to resist, nor yet approving the election by joyful acclamations, as the custome was to other Emperors; but cursing him and throwing stones at him. Herodian ubi suprà.
He being hated, Syria elected Niger, Germany chose Severus Emperor, who took Albinus as partner.
The rise of these 3 Commanders, with the fall of Iulian, was prognosticated by the appearance of 3 Stars about the Sun (while Iulian sacrificed) conspicuous to all but the flattering pur-blind Senators. Xiphiline.
A boy also divining by a looking-glass, saw Severus his advance and Iulian's departure. Spartian c. 7.
Severus hasting to Rome was met by Embassadors from Iulian with the offer of half the Empire; which he refused, and was by the Senate (who lately proclaimed him Traitor) declared Emperor.
Duo ingentia gravabant virum odia: alterum militum quod eis promissa dare non poterat; alterum populi, quod perfidus in optimum principem fuisse traderetur. Glareanus in Eutropium. Orosius, ab initio Pertinacis ad finem Iuliani, annum unum absumptum fuisse dicit, senis mensibus utriusque Imperio imputatis. Quod falsum est; vix enim dimidium anni inter initium Pertinacis & Severi interjectum est. Scaliger in Eusebium. Menses septem imperium tenuit, necem magno emercatus. Cappellus.The soldiers discontented because Iulian kept not his Covenant, and hoping to purchase favour with Severus, slew their Chapman in his palace; he thus expostulating with them, Quid rei gravis admisi? quem interfeci?
He was so penurious, that if any one had sent him a Pig or an Hare, it served 3 dayes; often supping only on pulse or herbs. Spartianus in Iuliano. c. 3.
He lived 60 years, 4 months, and so many dayes; and reigned 66 dayes. Dio.
Annus CXCV. tres Imperatores vidit, P. Helvium Pertinacem, M. Didium Iulianum, & L. Septimium Severum: priores duo paucorum mensium, posterior multorum annorum fuit. Marcus Velserus Rerum Augustae Vindelicorum l. 6. p. 136, 137.
He being old, honourable and rich, by the purchase of the Empire lessened his estate, impaired his credit, and lost his life.
Dii bene, quod spoliis Didius non gaudet opimis;
Et cito perjuro praemia dempta seni.
Tu que Severe pater titulum ne horresce novantis;
Non rapit Imperium vis tua, sed recipit.
Ausonius.