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”