Pertinax (1st January 193 A.D. - 28th March 193 A.D.)

Publius Helvius Pertinax was born at Alba Pompeia in 126 A.D., the son of a slave turned wool merchant. He had a successful military career, including being made tribune to the VI Legion 'Victrix' based at York. He was rewarded for his part in Marcus Aurelius's northern wars by being made senator, consul and then governor of the two Moesias, then Dacia and finally Syria. Under Commodus he suppressed an army mutiny in Britain, and served a short spell as governor of Africa (Tunisia).

At the death of Commodus on 31st December 192, he was urban prefect of the City of Rome. He reluctantly accepted the throne when it was offered him by the murderers of Commodus, but his policies made him unpopular, particularly with the Praetorian Guard, who had been bribed to accept his elevation in the first place. On March 28th a band of mutinous guards invaded the palace and murdered him after a reign of only 86 days.