Didius Julianus in Roman Biography

Did'I-us, (Julianus Severus,) a Roman emperor, born at Milan in 133 A.D., was the son of Petronius Didius Severus. He served in the army with distinction, and was made consul with Pertinax. After the murder of this emperor, in 193, the Prsetorians offered the empire at public auction to the highest bidder. The chief competitors were Sulpitianus and Didius, who was immensely rich. The latter made the highest bid, (6250 drachmas for each soldier,) and was proclaimed emperor. But Septimius Severus and other generals refused to recognize him, and, after a reign of about two months, he was killed by the soldiers in his palace. Severus was his successor. See Dion Cassius, " History of Rome ;" Tillemont, "Histoire des Empereurs."