Empire for sale -- 25,000 sesterces. Cheap!

[KamaAina]

Political office being traded on the open market is nothing new. Here's what went down in 193 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didius_Julianus#Rise_to_power

After the murder of Pertinax (28 March 193), the Praetorian assassins announced that the throne was to be sold to the man who would pay the highest price. Titus Flavius Sulpicianus, prefect of the city, father-in-law of the murdered emperor, being at that moment in the camp to which he had been sent to calm the troops, began making offers, when Julianus, having been roused from a banquet by his wife and daughter, arrived in all haste, and being unable to gain admission, stood before the gate, and with a loud voice competed for the prize. As the bidding went on, the soldiers reported to each of the two competitors, the one within the fortifications, the other outside the rampart, the sum offered by his rival. Eventually Sulpicianus promised 20,000 sesterces to every soldier, and Julianus fearing that Sulpicianus would gain the throne, immediately offered 25,000. The guards immediately closed with the offer of Julianus, threw open the gates, saluted him by the name of Commodus, and proclaimed him emperor. Threatened by the military, the Senate declared him emperor. His wife and his daughter both received the title Augusta.

Emperor Julianus was killed three months later. The decline of the Roman Empire was well on its way.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana

[Ozymanithrax]

1. We have entered that age where Congressmen, Senators,and Presidents are sold like Porkbellies...

We live in interesting times.

[gratuitous]

2. How much is that in quatloos?

It was 25,000 sesterces for each soldier (not the Empire itself), a pittance considering the prize that was being bid on, and the emoluments appertaining thereto. But to do all that work and be rewarded with the name "Commodus"? Fail.

[KamaAina]

3. I couldn't figure out how many soldiers there were

so couldn't come up with an exact figure.

Why are people unreccing this? For those of you just tuning in, it's an allegory on the monstrous SCOTUS decision.

[gratuitous]

4. Yeah, I'm still checking on the sesterces-to-quatloos conversion

I've been contacted by a party interested in purchasing this "United States of America," but if the cost is per soldier, the business case might not pencil out. There's been some loose talk of "invasion" and "conquest," but I think it's just posturing.

All these developments would be quite interesting from a historical point of view if the situation wasn't quite so personal, ya know?