ABSTRACT
Commodus’ murderers were afraid that a prolonged power vacuum could jeopardize their position, and so that same day Eclectus and Laetus offered the throne to Pertinax, a man of sixty-six. He was consul, following an extremely unusual career. His father was a freedman, who had named his son Pertinax (‘perseverer’) to underscore the fact that with much perseverance he had gone far in the wool trade. In the beginning it seemed as if the young Pertinax was destined for a career in education, but when he was about thirty-five he changed his plans and joined the army. His star rose quickly. After a few military commands in Syria, Britain and Moesia, he also held a number of posts in the upper echelons of the civil service. In 171 he became legion commander and in 175 consul. After his period as consul he was governor of Moesia, Dacia and Syria and the city prefect of Rome. In 192 he became consul for a second time.
