Clodius Albinus was born in Africa is a beautiful aristocratic family. His father decided to call him Albinus because of how it appeared he was when he was born. You would think that his father was abusive but his whiteness was praised in Roman society. Politicians bleached their togas as white as possible when they ran for office. So maybe it was a compliment. Still a weird name in my opinion.
He joined the army early in life. Marcus Aurelius (the emperor at the time) praised him for helping him with a rebellion. Marcus said that without Clodius the legions in Bithynia would have joined the rebellion also those problems would have been.
In those days were rebellions and revolutions primarily about how many legions you could get on your side. Sometimes it would be a good speech done on the balance tip that was supposed to be the next emperor or who would remain on the throne.
Now here is a funny chapter in Clodius of life. Coldius was a commander in Britain by the then Emperor Commodus. Now when Commodus died started Clodius denounce Commodus to his troops. He said the Commodus had a tyrant (undoubtedly true-almost all emperors were tyrants) he also said that the Senate should get back more power. In fact, however, Commodus was not dead it was just a rumor. Clodius became so well respected by now pretty much all that he got away with it. Despite the Emperor is furious.
Clodius the time came when the Emperor Pertinax was assasinated. Pertinax was not popular with the Praetorian Guard (the emperors bodyguard.) because he was not enough to pay. Now of all people to be unpopular with the people who are supposed to protect you. In fact, they did anything but. They Emperor Pertinax was murdered because they hated him that much.
That was not the smartest thing to do, but it really stupid thing was what they did next. Because they are not a replacement for Pertinax drawn up, they simply decided to the post of Emperor who would pay them the most. Effective auction it off.
Didius Julianus was the man who won the auction. But it was not going to be that simple for him. In the Roman provinces were very powerful men, who had huge armies under their command. Frankly, the way that everything had fallen was very uncivilized even for their standards. They were not happy.
So the challengers to the throne Pescennius Niger in Syria, Septimius Severus in Illyricum and Pannonia and our hero Clodius Albinus in Britain and Gaul.
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