DIDIUS SALVIUS IULIANUS, MARCUS, Roman em peror for two months (March 28–June 2, A.D. 193). He was the grandson of Salvius Iulianus, a famous jurist under Hadrian and the Antonines, and the son of a distinguished general. On the death of Pertinax, the praetorian guards offered the throne to the highest bidder. Didius and Sulpicianus (prefect of the city) 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 revolted. Septimius Severus, the commander of the Pannonian legions, was declared emperor and hastened to Italy. Didius, abandoned by the praetorians, was condemned and exe cuted by order of ihe senate, which at once acknowledged Severus.
Cassius lxxiii. 11-17, who was actually in Rome at the time; Aelius Spartianus Didius lulianus; Iulius Capi tolinus, Pertinax; Herodian ii.; Aurelius Victor De Caesaribus, 19; Zosimus; 7; Gibbon Decline and Fall, chap. 5.