The Death of Commodus

On New Year's Eve 192, Marsha attempted to poison her lover. Commodus caught wise to the poison and forced himself to vomit it all back up. The conspirators sent Commodus' wrestling partner Narcissus into the bath by the instructions to strangle the Emperor. Pertnax agreed to wait in the wings and take no direct part in the killing but pledged that when asked, he would reluctantly agree to don the purple.