Quintus Aemilius Laetus

Infobox Military Person
name= Quintus Aemilius Laetus
lived= ?–193
placeofbirth= Thaenae, Africa Province (Tunisia)
placeofdeath= Rome


caption=
allegiance= Roman Empire
serviceyears= 191–193
rank= Praetorian prefect
unit=
commands= Praetorian Guard
battles=
relations=
laterwork=

Quintus Aemilius Laetus (?–193) was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, from 191 until his death in 193. He acceded to this position upon the deaths of his predecessors Regillus and Julius Julianus, by appointment of emperor Commodus.

When the behavior of Commodus turned increasingly erratic during the early 190s, Laetus is thought to have been implicated in the conspiracy that led to the emperor's murder on December 31 192. The plot was a calculated attempt to advance the city prefect Publius Helvius Pertinax to the throne, but the assassination inadvertently initiated a period of civil war known as the Year of the Five Emperors, during which the Roman Empire witnessed five different claimants to the imperial power. The year opened with the brief reigns of Pertinax and Didius Julianus, before erupting to a full scale war between the generals Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.

Although Laetus himself had been responsible for the accession of Pertinax, his claim to the imperial purple was opposed by the majority of the Praetorian Guard, forcing Pertinax to secure their support with an excessive promise of money. When he managed to pay only half of the promised sum however, he was deserted by Laetus and killed by rogue Praetorians. In one of the most infamous episodes in Roman history, [Birley, p. 95] the guard then proceeded to sell the Empire by auction to Didius Julianus. In response, the armies of Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus rose in revolt, and marched on Rome. When his demise appeared imminent, Didius Julianus ordered the execution of Laetus and the conspirators against Commodus, on suspicion that they would side with Severus.

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References

* cite book | last = Birley | first = Anthony R. | authorlink = Anthony Birley | title = Septimius Severus: The African Emperor |origyear= 1971 | publisher = Routledge | year = 2000 | location = London | isbn = 0-415-16591-1
*cite book |last=Cawley |first=Richard |title= The African Emperor? The Life, Career and Rise to Power of Septimius Severus |url=http://wordpress.com/tag/roman-papers/ |format=html |accessdate=2007-09-11 |year=2001 |location=University of Wales, Lampeter