00:00Did you know the Roman Empire was once sold at auction like a piece of furniture?
00:03In 193 AD, the Praetorian Guard murdered Emperor Pertinax and then did something unthinkable.
00:09They literally put the throne up for sale.
00:11Whoever paid the most would rule the known world.
00:13A wealthy senator named Didius Julianus I, he paid around 6,000 gold coins per soldier.
00:19He became emperor that day.
00:2166 days later, he was dead.
00:23The legions outside Rome refused to accept a purchased emperor and marched on the city.
00:28The empire wasn't sold, it was exposed.
Comments