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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
115
CHAP. IV.
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wrestler, entered his chamber, and strangled him without resistance. The body was secretly conveyed out of the palace, before the least suspicion was entertained in the city, or even in the court, of the emperor's death.
Such was the fate of the son of Marcus; and so easy was it to destroy a hated tyrant, who by the artificial powers of government had oppressed, during thirteen years, so many millions of subjects, each of whom was
equal to their master in personal strength and personal abilities[1].
- ↑ Dion, 1. Ixxii. p. 1222. Herodian, 1. i. p. 43. Hist. August, p. 52.
- ↑ Pertinax was a native of Alba Pompeia, in Piedmont, and son of a timber-merchant. The order of his employments (it is marked by Capitolinus) well deserves to be set down, as expressive of the form of government and manners of the age. 1 . He was a centurion. 2. Prefect of a cohort in Syria, in the Parthian war, and in Britain. 3. He obtained an 'ala,' or squadron of horse, in Maesia. 4. He was commissary of provisions on the ^milian way. 5. He commanded the fleet upon the Rhine. 6. He was procurator of Dacia, with a salary of about one thousand six hundred a year. 7. He commanded the veterans of a legion. 8. He obtained the rank of senator. 9. Of pretor. 10. With the command of the first legion in Rhaetia and Noricum. 11. He was consul about the year 175. 12. He attended Marcus into the east. 13. He commanded an army on the Danube. 14. He was consular legate of Majsia. 15. Of Dacia. 16. Of Syria. 17. Of Britain. 18. He had the care of the public provisions at Rome. 19. He was proconsul of Africa. 20. Prefect of the city. Herodian (1. i. p. 48.) does justice to his disinterested spirit ; but Capitolinus, who collected every popular rumour, charges him with a great fortune acquired by bribery and corruption.