Year of the Five Emperors

The Year of the Five Emperors (193 CE) was a year of civil wars, sparked by the assassination of Commodus, which saw five claimants to the Imperial Title.
They were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus. However, it took Septimius until 197 CE before he finally defeated his rivals and could rule as Emperor.

Septimius thought that he would inherit the Office of Emperor after the assassination of Commodus, and had positioned himself with the Rhine and Danube Legions to take power. However, part of the Nobility in the Senate were determined to thwart him, and he had to fight for four years before he could start his Rule.

On New Years Eve 192 CE Commodus planned a mass assassination of the Senators and Nobility.
Three nobles, Eclectus, Marcia and Laetus, managed to assassinate Commodus first and named Pertinax as the new Roman Emperor. Pertinax was Proconsul of Africa.
The Praetorian Guard became concerned when Pertinax removed the Army privileges granted by Commodus.
They assassinated Pertinax on March 28th, three months after the death of Commodus.

The Praetorian Guard sold the Title to Didius Julianus who was Proconsul of Africa, and outbid his nearest rival. Immediately there was a public outcry to his appointment.
Two rival claims to Imperial Title were immediately pursued by Pescennius Niger and Septimius Severus.
Didius was executed by the Roman Senate, on Septimius’ orders, on June 1st.

Pescennius Niger, the Governor of Syria, commanded only 6 Legions, but he saw his opportunity and was declared Emperor by the Legions. He had the support of those members of the Senate who feared Septimius’ power. However, his envoys, bearing his declaration of claiming the Imperial title to the Senate, were intercepted by Septimius.

Septimius Severus commanded the Legions in Illyricum and Pannonia, and also had the loyalty of all 16 Rhine and Danube Legions. He was declared Emperor by his Legions, 12 days after Pertinax‘ murder, on the 9th April, and with the backing of the Senate. Septimius, who held the most power, had been ready to become Emperor after the death of Commodus but was displaced by Pertinax.

On the orders of Septimius Severus, Didius Julianus was executed by the Roman Senate on June 1st, two months after the death of Pertinax. Severus marched on Rome, arriving a few days later.
Septimius Severus came to an agreement with Clodius Albinus, Commander of the three British Legions to share power, whilst he pursued the armies of Pescennius Niger. Although a powerful rival, Septimius needed Clodius as an ally.

At first the East sided with Pescennius Niger, but as the civil war progressed in Severus’ favour, the Governors changed sides and supported Severus instead of Niger.
Septimius first sent messengers to Egypt to make sure the two Egyptian Legions did not join Pescennius Niger.
Septimius then sent part of his army ahead to Thrace, where he defeated part of Niger’s army in battle at Perinthus.
He followed with his main force towards Byzantium, where Pescennius Niger had set up Headquarters.
Niger’s army was defeated in the autumn at Cyzicus, on the Sea of Marmara, and Septimius then laid siege to Byzantium.
Niger fled to Nicaea where he experienced another defeat in December, but was able to withdraw with his army into the Taurus Mountains. In May 194 CE his army was again defeated at Issus. Niger was finally captured escaping to Antioch and executed.
His head was brought to Byzantium, but they refused to surrender, and were not crushed until 195 CE. Septimius then razed the city to the ground and massacred all its inhabitants.

Clodius ruled as Co-Emperor, whilst Septimius set about defeating Pescennius Niger.
However, in the autumn of 196 CE Clodius Albinus was proclaimed Emperor by his the three Legions in Britannia and the Legion in Hispania. He brought his army to Lugdunum in Gaul, but Clodius was unable to bring the Rhine Legions over to his side.
On 19 Feb 197 CE Clodius met Septimius Severus at the Battle of Lugdunum and was defeated.
According to Dio Cassius, there were 150,000 troops on both sides. Severus had Albinus executed along with his family.

Septimius had to fight for four years before he could start his Rule.
After defeating both Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus, he became the Roman Emperor.

After eliminating his rivals, Septimius was able to rule unchallenged as the Roman Emperor.
Severus purged the followers of the other usurpers, and so began the Severan Dynasty.