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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tejas, post: 7725641, member: 84905&quot;]Like with most of the other emperors, who were killed by their successors, we should not underestimate the impact of propaganda. The Severans were interested to portrait Didius Julianus in the darkest colours possible and Cassius Dio, who thrived during Septimius Severus&#039; rule was just the man for the job.</p><p><br /></p><p>The &quot;auctioning off&quot; of the empire by the Praetorian guard, was in my view not much different to what happened often before and after, when prospective emperors (Pertinax and Septimius Severus included) offered money to solidiers for their support.</p><p><br /></p><p>In fact, Didius Julianus didn&#039;t have much to gain and may have acted selflessly. In AD 193, Didius Julianus was 60 years old, i.e. well beyond the life expectancy of the time. He had apparently no sons and thus no hope to establish a dynasty. Hearing of Sulpicianus&#039;s attempt to bribe the Praetorian guards (he offered 20000 sesterces per head, i.e. apparently the same amount that Marcus Aurelius had paid in 161), Didius Julianus may have felt compelled to outbid him, to restore stability.</p><p><br /></p><p>Importantly, Didius Julianus appears to have been a compentent and decent person. The fact, that he did not have Sulpicianus killed, again speaks in Didius Julianus&#039; favour. Even Cassious Dio who has little favourable to say about him, describes him as generous and polite. Also, Didius Julianus had occupied prominent positions in which he distinguished himself. For example, as governor of Gallia Belgica he is credited with repelling Saxon naval attacks. Finally, the fact that he fell out with the despicable Commodus, argues in his favour.</p><p><br /></p><p>In sum, I think the story that the auctioning off of the empire in 193 was a low-point of Roman history after the end of the glorious Antonine dynasty is largey fiction.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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