a man of the lowest origin, purchased the rank of senator from Cleander, the favourite of Commodus, by the surrender of all his property. He was afterwards put to death by Septimius Severus at the commencement of his reign, although he had himself drawn up a decree of the senate at the request of the emperor, enacting that no senator should be put to death (D. C. 72.12, 74.2, and Excerp. Vatic. ed. Maii, p. 225).
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology
Smith, William
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890