Helvius, a Roman emperor, was the son of an humble wood-merchant and charcoal-burner, and was born in 126 A.D., according to some in Liguria, but according to others at Villa Martis, among the Apennines. The prudence and integrity of his character raised him rapidly from his native obscurity. From being a teacher of grammar, he passed gradually through many important offices, both civil and military, twice holding the consulship, and governing in succession most of the provinces in the empire. At length, on the last day of the year 192, he was chosen to succeed the murdered Commodus. His death took place by assassination eighty-six days afterwards, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, after a reign of two months and twenty-seven days. (See ROMAN HISTORY.)