The Year of the Five Emperors refers to the year 193 AD, in which there were five claimants for the title of Roman Emperor. The five were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus. This year started a period of civil war where multiple rulers vied for the chance to become Caesar.
The political unrest began with the murder of Commodus on New Year’s Eve 192 AD. Once Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax was named emperor but immediately had opposition coming from the Praetorian Guard. They plotted an assassination of Pertinax and carried it out. Pertinax was killed while trying to resist the troops. He was only emperor for three months. Didius Julianus succeeded Pertinax as emperor but was overrun by Septimius Severus and executed on June 1. Severus was declared Caesar by the Senate but Pescinnius Niger was quickly made his enemy when he declared himself emperor. This started the civil war between Niger and Severus as both gathered troops and fought throughout the vast Roman Empire. Due to this war, Severus allowed Clodius Albinus, who he saw as a threat to his throne, to be co-Caesar so that Severus did not have to preoccupy himself with the duties of the empire so he could go win the civil war he was waging against Niger. Most historians count Severus and Albinus as two emperors even though they ruled simultaneously. The Severan dynasty was created out of the chaos of 193 AD. and Septimius Severus started this dynasty. Overall, most sources denote this year in Roman history as a year of civil war since there were rapidly changing emperors who were fighting against one another to gain a foothold as Caesar.
Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD).
Chinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy (theory of the three harmony, heaven, earth and water) and uses the principles of yin and yang and concepts that are not found in Western astrology, such as the wu xing teachings, the 10 Celestial stems, the 12 Earthly Branches, the lunisolar calendar (moon calendar and sun calendar), and the time calculation after year, month, day and shichen (時辰).
Background
Chinese astrology was elaborated during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) and flourished during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD). During the Han period, the familiar elements of traditional Chinese culture—the Yin-Yang philosophy, the theory of the 5 elements, the concepts of Heaven and Earth, and Confucian morality—were brought together to formalize the philosophical principles of Chinese medicine and divination, astrology and alchemy.
The Five Emperors may refer to: