Rome’s Emperors
Transcript of Rome’s Emperors
Tiberius (14-37 CE) Stepson of Augustus (Augustus
outlived his five appointed successors) Ruled with Augustus for last 10 years
of Augustus’ life Had never held an administrative position
before Ruled from Isle of Capri, wanted
Senate to act without him Led a life of debauchery (manic
depressive) Christ crucified during his reign
Bottom Line on Tiberius
Bitter, little man Scheming Suspicious Instituted a reign of terror Did not abuse power,
failed to use it! Crowd rejoiced at his death
Gaius [Caligula] (37-41 CE) Adopted grandson of Tiberius
Great-grandson of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony
Became ill after a few months in power and became insane Sacrificed 160,000 slaves to the gods
Caligula is Latin for “little baby boots” Claimed he was a god Made a serious attempt to have his horse
elected Consul Very cruel and unpopular – assassinated
with wife and daughter by own guard
Bottom Line on Caligula
Known for extravagance, cruelty and eccentric personality
Engaged in openly adulterous and incestuous affairs
What we know might be just rumours
Claudius (41-54 CE) Found cowering as Praetorians were
looting Caligula’s palace Nephew of Tiberius
Purging of family tree by previous emperors made him sole heir
Though intelligent and well-educated, he was physically crippled and frail/weak
Added the province of Britain (43 CE) , named after his son, Britannicus
All 5 marriages ended in failure (first wife died on wedding night!)
Poisoned to death (mushrooms) by fifth wife (also his niece) to make Nero emperor
Bottom Line on Claudius
Physically weak Shrewd
administrator Extended Roman
citizenship in the provinces
Founded Roman cities in the provinces
Nero (54-68 CE) Emperor at 16 and soon became a tyrant Murdered:
Agrippina, his mother, in 59 CE Poppaea, pregnant second wife by kicking her
to death Second wife’s husband Seneca, his teacher/advisor Britannicus, his step-brother
Entered the Olympics and won through bribery!
Nero, continued 64 CE – accused of setting fire to Rome
2/3 of Rome destroyed Made Christians the scapegoat for the fire
and carried out first persecutions of Christians Apostles Peter and Paul died in Rome
Many Romans sacrificed in “sports” events Great artist: painted, sculpted, sang, acted 68 CE – committed suicide as 3 provinces
were in revolt and Praetorian Guard deserted him
Last of Julius Caesar’s bloodline
Bottom Line on Nero
Biased historical accounts leave us unable to tell what really happened
Senate revolted against him, declared an enemy of the state
Very extravagant – taxed the Patricians
Poster child showing the folly of excess
Vespasian (69-79 CE) Senate gave imperial power to Vespasian
after a year of civil war Ruled well Gave citizenship to people of many
provinces Founded the Flavian dynasty Built Roman Colosseum First emperor since
Augustus who did not die violently/unnaturally
Titus (79-81 CE) Vespasian’s son Famous for capture of
Jerusalem in 70 CE Given a Triumphal Arch Emperor in 79 CE Ideal Emperor
He spent lavish sums on games and monuments
Gave financial aid to people who suffered from explosion of Mount Vesuvius / victims of the fire of Rome
Domitian (81-96 CE) Younger brother of Titus Efficient but arrogant Hated the Senate Rule became tyrannical
Executed anyone suspected of even the mildest form of dissent
Assassinated by those paid by his wife Domitilla in 96 CE, thus ending the Flavian Dynasty
Nerva (96-98 CE)
Chosen by the Senate to rule Started method of imperial
succession Took the title of Augustus and chose
a Caesar to replace him Increased welfare payments to the
masses
Trajan (98-117 CE) Born in Spain Outstanding soldier and
general Military conquests expanded
empire in the Middle East Conquered Dacia (Romania)
and Parthia Dacian conquests
commemorated by a sculpted column
Public works projects in Rome included baths, markets, basilica, and new forum
Bottom Line on Trajan
Great soldier Able administrator Travelled the Empire to help stop
rebellion
Hadrian (117-138 CE) Succeeded his adopted father, Trajan Great admirer of Greek culture Great soldier who spent much time
with his armies on the frontier establishing permanent barriers against the barbarians
Gave up new territories in the East, except Dacia
Political reformer: Senators, Equities received training
Hadrian, continued Britain conquered by
Claudius in 43 CE Hadrian built a 73 mile
(117 km) defensive wall across Britain to separate Romans from barbarians
Wall is 20 bricks high and 2.5 meters wide; small forts installed every 1,500 meters and lookouts every 500 meters; manned by 13,000 auxiliaries living on south side
Wall took 3 legions 5 years to build
Bottom Line on Hadrian Great soldier Builder of defensive
walls and the Pantheon (rebuilt)
Enemy of the Jewish peoples
Very versatile Intellect Artist
Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) Was co-emperor with his brother, Lucius
Verus, until Verus’ death in 169 CE Spent most of his rule on the frontiers
keeping barbarians out Increased size of army and taxes, yet
lowered taxes for the poor Lenient towards political criminals Plague killed thousands during his
watch; this caused much doubt in Rome and the Empire
Bottom Line on Aurelius Aurelius’ watch marked by fighting the
“barbarians” Known for his Stoic philosophy, “Meditations”
Transient nature of all things on
earth Do not let emotion override reason Do not lament things that happen
outside of your power to control The only thing you can control is
your attitude/outlook
Diocletian (284-304 AD) Stabilized Empire Had a rule of four where everyone
looked over various aspects of the Empire
Secured their borders from invaders from all corners
Persecuted Christians Destroyed religious texts, places of
worship Changed format of gov’t, military and
economy (larger, more organized) Abdicated throne due to illness
Constantine (307-337 AD) Involved in many civil wars to
consolidate power First Christian Emperor
Reversed persecutions through Edict of Milan
Created the city of Constantinople New capital of Rome Becomes Byzantine Empire when Rome
splits Constantinople is capital for over 1000
years Fought many Barbarian groups to
keep Rome safe
Winner of All-Time Worst Roman Emperor… Marcus Aurelius Antonius
Heliogabalus (218-224 CE) Emperor at 14 Held the hereditary rank of high
priest to the Carthaginian and Syrian sun-god Ba’al Cattle, sheep, severed human
genitalia, and young boys sacrificed to god Ba’al
Homosexual Bore a strong desire to be a
woman: plucked hairs from body, wore make-up, wanted a sex change operation
Raped, married, then divorced a vestal virgin known as aquilia severa (the “great sewer”)
Enjoyed pretending to be a prostitute, offering himself naked to passers by in the palace, and he prostituted himself in the taverns and brothels of Rome
Rather enjoyed severe punishments for having been caught
He and his mother executed and bodies thrown into Tiber River
Heliogabalus’ followers fate: had genitals ripped off and pierced by pikes in the anus “so that their death fitted their lives”