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His career before he became emperor as it is documented in the Historia Augusta has been confirmed in many places by existing inscriptions. The son of a freedman Helvius Successus, originally Pertinax made his way as a grammaticus or teacher of grammar, but he eventually decided to find a more rewarding line of work and through the help of patronage he was commissioned an officer in a cohort. In the Parthian war that followed, he was able to distinguish himself, which resulted with a string of promotions, and after postings in Britain (as military tribune of the Legio VI Victrix) and along the Danube, he served as a procurator in Dacia. He suffered a setback as a victim of court intrigues during the reign of Marcus AureliusImperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus ( April 26, 121 March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. He was born Marcus Annius Catilius Severus and at marriage took the name Marcus Annius Verus . When he was named Emperor, he, but shortly afterwards he was recalled to assist Claudius PompeianusTiberius Claudius Pompeianus a general of Marcus Aurelius, married Aurelius' daughter, Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla, and rose to the rank of senior senator in Rome before twice refusing emperorship for himself. Pompeianus, a Syrian of lowly birth, served in the Germanic wars. In 175Alternate uses, see Number 175''. Events Pope Eleuterus succeeds Pope Soter (approximate date) Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius defeats the Marcomanni. Births Sun Ce, elder brother of founder of the Wu Kingdom, Sun Quan Zhou Yu, militarist and strategist of he received the honor of a suffect consulshipFor modern diplomatic consuls see Consulate general. Consul (abbrev. was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. Under the Republic, the minimum age of election to consul for patricians was 40 years of a and until 185, Pertinax was governor of the provinces of Upper and Lower MoesiaIn ancient geography, Moesia was a district inhabited by a Thracian people. It was bounded on the south by the mountain ranges of Haemus and Scardus (Scordus, Scodrus), on the west by the Drinus, on the north by the Danube and on the east by the Euxine., Dacia, SyriaThe Syrian Arab Republic is a country in Southwest Asia, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. The border with Israel is subject to dispute, pending the resolution of outstanding conflicts over possession of the Gola and finally governor of Britain.

In the decade of the 180sCenturies: 1st century 2nd century 3rd century Decades: 130s 140s 150s 160s 170s 180s 190s 200s 210s 220s 230s 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 Events and trends Significant people Commodus, Roman Emperor 180s., Pertinax took a role in the Roman Senate until the praetorian prefect Perennis forced him out of public life. He was recalled after the three years in Britain, whose army at the time was in a state of mutiny. He quelled the unruly soldiers, and returned in honor to Rome. He served as proconsul of Africa in 188 - 189, and followed this term of service with the prefecture of Rome -- and a second consulship as ordinarius with the emperor as his colleague. He was serving as urban prefect when Commodus was assassinated by his own household.

Pertinax's short reign (86 days) was an uneasy one. He attempted to emulate the restrained practices of Marcus Aurelius, and made an effort to reform the alimenta but he faced antagonism from many quarters. Ancient writers detail how the Praetorian Guard expected a generous donativum on his ascension, and when they were disappointed, agitated until he produced the money, selling off Commodus' property, including the concubines and youths Commodus kept for his sexual pleasures. He narrowly averted one conspiracy by a group to replace him with Falco, but a second conspiracy ended with his assassination by members of the Praetorian Guard. Pertinax must have been aware of the danger he faced by assuming the purple, for he refused to use imperial titles for either his wife or son, thus protecting them from the aftermath of his own assassination.

Following his entrance into the city of Rome, Septimius Severus recognized him as a legitimate emperor, and not only pressured the Senate to provide for him a state funeral, but for some time held games on the anniversary of Pertinax's ascension and his birthday.

Pertinax is a brand name for a composite material of phenol formaldehyde resin laminated paper, used for electronic circuit boards.