Elliott, Simon Pertinax. The Son of a Slave Who Became Roman Emperor

The son of a former slave, Pertinax was the Roman Emperor who proved that no matter how lowly your birth, you could rise to the very top through hard work, grit and determination. Born in AD 126, he made a late career change from working as a grammar teacher to a position in the army. As he moved up the ranks and further along the aristocratic cursus honorum, he took on many of the most important postings in the Empire, from senior military roles in fractious Britain, the Marcomannic Wars on the Danube, to the Parthian Wars in the east. He held governorships in key provinces, and later consulships in Rome itself. When Emperor Commodus was assassinated on New Years Eve AD 192/193, the Praetorian Guard alighted on Pertinax to become the new Emperor, expecting a pliable puppet who would favour them with great wealth. But Pertinax was nothing of the sort and when he then attempted to reform the Guard, he was assassinated. His death triggered the beginning of the "Year of the Five Emperors" from which Septimius Severus, Pertinaxs former mentoree, became the ultimate victor and founder of the Severan Dynasty. This previously untold story brings a fascinating and important figure out of the shadows. A self made everyman, a man of principle and ambition, a role model respected by his contemporaries who styled himself on his philosophizing predecessor and sometime champion Marcus Aurelius, Pertinaxs remarkable story offers a unique and panoramic insight into the late 2nd century AD Principate Empire.

He held governorships in key provinces and was later consul in Rome. When Emperor Commodus was assassinated on New Year's Eve 192/193, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed Pertinax the new emperor. They hoped that Pertinax would be a compliant puppet who would shower them with wealth in return for their acclamation. But Pertinax was nothing of the sort and when he then tried to reform the guard, he himself became the victim of an assassination attempt. His death led to the "Year of the Five Emperors", from which Septimius Severus, Pertinax's former mentor, emerged victorious.