High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Publius Helvius Pertinax, commonly known as Pertinax (August 1, 126 March 28, 193), was a Roman emperor who briefly reigned from December 31, 192 until his death on March 28, 193. He was emperor for only 86 days. He is known as the first emperor of the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. Upon his death, he was succeeded by Didius Julianus, whose reign was similarly short-lived. His career before becoming emperor is documented in the Historia Augusta and confirmed in many places by existing inscriptions. Born in Alba Pompeia in Italy, the son of a freedman Helvius Successus, originally Pertinax made his way as a grammaticus (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 in 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.