MARCUS DIDIUS SALVIUS JULIANUS  , Roman emperor for two months (March 28—June 2) during the year A.D . 193 . He was the grandson of the famous jurist Salvius Julianus (under Hadrian and the Antonines), and the son of a distinguished general, who might have ascended the throne after the death of Antoninus Pius, had not his loyalty to the ruling house prevented him . Didius filled several civil and military offices with distinguished success, but subsequently abandoned himself to dissipation . On the death of Pertinax, the praetorian guards offered the throne to the highest bidder . Flavius Sulpicianus, the father-in-law of Pertinax and praefect of the city, had already made an offer; Didius, urged on by the members of his family, his freedmen and parasites, hurried to the praetorian camp to contend for the prize . He and Sulpicianus bid against each other, and finally the throne was knocked down to Didius . The senate and nobles professed their loyalty; but the people made no attempt to conceal their indignation at this insult to the state, and the armies of Britain, Syria and Illyricum broke out into open revolt . Septimius Severus, the commander of the Pannonian legions, was declared emperor and hastened by forced marches to Italy . Didius, abandoned by the praetorians, was condemned and executed by order of the senate, which at once acknowledged Severus .