The Assassination of Commodus

Tiberius was the arch machiavellian parenus, who had parleyed his insider information. Parennus and comodus were engaged in a friendly rivalry to see who could create the most political chaos so that the dust would keep swirling. The empire was lucky during this chaotic period for two reasons. First, the borders were relatively peaceful. Second, though he was personally ruthless, parennis was no administrative slouch. He kept the grain flowing, the books balanced and the games running. It all would have fallen apart much sooner had he been utterly corrupt or a dismal accountant. But he was neither. And so the empire, while not exactly flour sing, was