Explanation: Unpopular Emperors were often deposed by military coups, despite the reign of the Empire being (theoretically) predicated on the legitimizing institutions of the Republic granting power to the Emperor in the name of the people. Nothing beats naked force, though - and a helping of bribery to the soldiery, of course!
Wasn't there at one point a literal sale to the highest bidder to take the throne .... the salesmen being the elite soldiers who had just removed the previous leader.
Yep - Didius Julianus. Bribed the Praetorian Guard with the equivalent of 20 years' pay per soldier. Reigned for only a few months before he himself was overthrown.
Explanation: Unpopular Emperors were often deposed by military coups, despite the reign of the Empire being (theoretically) predicated on the legitimizing institutions of the Republic granting power to the Emperor in the name of the people. Nothing beats naked force, though - and a helping of bribery to the soldiery, of course!
Wasn't there at one point a literal sale to the highest bidder to take the throne .... the salesmen being the elite soldiers who had just removed the previous leader.
Yep - Didius Julianus. Bribed the Praetorian Guard with the equivalent of 20 years' pay per soldier. Reigned for only a few months before he himself was overthrown.