The Praetorian Guard auctioned the Roman imperial throne to the highest bidder

Evidence

in a bare-faced biddingwar, Flavius Sulpicianus offered 20 000 sestertii per soldier, but Didius Julianus used his outstretched fingers to indicate an extra 5 000. The Roman Empire was sold. — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 1164

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 1164
• XREF: connects to: The Praetorian Guard’s self-interest prevented republic restoration after Caligula’s murder. — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 483