Today is Saturday, March 28, 2020.

On this day in 193 CE,

Roman Emperor Pertanax was murdered by his treacherous bodyguards.

The opportunists auctioned off the government to Pertinax's political rival,

setting the course for an unprecedented crisis known as the Year of the Five Emperors.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original. Due to the graphic nature of

today's crimes, listener discretion is advised.

Extreme caution is advised for listeners under 13.

Today we're covering the assassination of Emperor Pertinax

and the shrewd soldiers who auctioned off his empire.

Let's go to Rome back on the morning of March 28th, 193, CE. C.C.E. 66 year old Publius Helius Pertenax, also known as Emperor Pertinax, awoke to a commotion outside his palace.

He'd only been in power for three months and wasn't used to interruptions at this early hour, what was so important?

Pertanax threw on his royal purple robe

and leaned out his window to give everyone a piece of his mind.

He found an unruly mob below. But they weren't old

ladies protesting the price of bread. These were 300-plus well-built men of the Pretorian guard.

Many were still inebriated from the prior evening's Amorous festivities.

Some were armed.

Most were angry.

The Emperor owed them money, and it was time to pay up.

Their services weren't cheap.

The elite military unit was comprised of bodyguards, spies, and decorated

...