From Emperor Augustus until Emperor Antoninus Pius. The 15 Emperors of Rome. From 31 BC - 161 AD.
1)Emperor Augustus. (Reign 31 BC - 14 AD) 45 years.
Emperor Augustus is seen as a God to the Romans after he died. He left a empire of peace, prosperity and wealth. It all goes back when he was born into an equestrian family as Gaius Octavius in Rome on 23 September 63 BC. His father descended from an old, wealthy equestrian branch of the Octavii family. Despite being from a wealthy family, his family was plebeian, rather then patrician.
Gaius Octavius died when Octavian was only four years old. His mother who had more fame and good connections was the daughter of Julia. Sister of Julius Caesar.
Gaius Octavius was not so big and more of a small type. But he was handsome and well proportioned and he possessed that commodity so rare in rulers - grace. Aldo Gaius Octavius looked handsome, he didn't had good teeth and was generally of weak health. His body was full of birthmarks that where scattered over his chest and belly.
Octavian served under Julius Caesar in the Spanish expedition of 46 BC, in spite of his bad health. He was to take a senior military command in Caesar's planned expedition to Parthian in 44 BC. He was at time being only 18 years old. But Octavian completed his academic and military studies. When he heard of Caesar's assassination he returned to Rome at one. He found out along the way that Caesar indeed had plans with him. Caesar had adopted him as his son. This made Octavian very proud and happy and only increased his desire to avenge Caesar's murder.
When Octavian arrived in Rome he found the power in the hand of Mark Antony and Aemilius Lepidus. This where hard times for Octavian he refused to accept this attitude. With his firm attitude he soon succeeded in winning most of Caesar's supporters. Including some of Caesar's legions. But he failed to persuade Marc Antony to hand over Caesar's assets and documents. Because of that Octavian saw it necessary to distribute Caesar's legacies to the Roman public from whatever funds he was able to raise himself. Such efforts made him loved by the Roman people considerably.
In 27 BC the Roman Senate granted Octavian the name Augustus. Meaning the exalted. They also gave him the legal power to rule Rome's religious, civil and military affairs. With the senate as his advisers he effectively became emperor of the Roman empire.
1)Rome achieved great glory under Augustus. What did he do ?
-Restored peace after 100 years of civil war.
-Maintained an honest government.
-A sound currency system.
-Extended the highway system. Connecting Rome with its far-running empire.
-Developed an effective postal service.
-Fostered free trade amongst the provinces.
-Has constructed many bridges, aqueducts and buildings adorned with beautiful works of art created in a classical style.
2)Some famous writers lives during Augustus reign.
-Virgil
-Horace
-Ovid
-Livy
The empire became bigger under Augustus rule. With his generals he subdued Spain, Gaul, Panonia and Dalmatia. He annexed Egypt and most of Southwestern Europe as far to the Danube River. After Emperor Augustus death the people of Rome and the entire empire begone worshiping Augustus as a god. He ruled 45 years, probably the longest reign of an emperor ever lived.
Sources:http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus-index.html / http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95sep/augustus.html /
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Octavius
2)Emperor Tiberius. (Reign 14 AD - 37 AD) 23 years.
Tiberius his first name was Tiberius Claudius Nero born in 42 BC. He was the second emperor of Rome. His rule was magnificent to historians for many reasons. His attack is the first succession to happen in the Principate. The period he ruled serves as a backdrop for most of the events related by Christian and Muslim holy books as occurrences in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Some of the problems that occurred because of the new religion of Christan's happen first during the rule of Tiberius.
Tiberius his attack was a critical and troubling time for the Romans. There was little in Tiberius Character or in his actions that could have brought the Romans much comfort. Tiberisu felt uncomfortable being a possible heir to Augustus. Tiberius didn't think Augustus took him at first choice. Tiberius removed himpself from the center of power and his responsibilitie by miving to the island of Rhodes. Augustus was angered to hear Tiberius moved away to Rhodes. Tiberius would likely be punished for this. But because of a series of deaths of other potential successors to Augustus, was Tiberius the only reasonable candidate to replace Augustus.
Augustus danced Tiberius on the ond of a string. Augustus forced Tiberius to divorce his beloved wife and marry Julia the daughter of Augustus. The union with Julia was extremely unhappy for Tiberius.
Despite the shaky start Tiberius first few years of rule were relatively successful. He had significant leadership skills, having bee by all accounts an excellent general in important military campaigns. Early in his rule he successfully put down two military revolts. He also wisely chose not to expand the empire because the Roman resources at that time would not have supported it.
Finally in 26 AD Tiberius had enoufh of it. He has alwasy been haapy when away from the capital and its evelasting intrigue, Rome's emperor simple departed to his holiday mansion on the isle of Capreae. Never to return to the Rome Again. He left the government in the hands of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the praetorian prefect. Sejanus believed to be a potential successor of the emperor, and conspired against Tiberius.
Sejanus enjoyed near unlimited power in Rome, Sejanus moved the two heirs to the throne. Nero Caesar was banished to an insland, Drusus was imprisoned in the cellar of the imperial palace. Both were dead in time. Nero Caesar was ordered to cimmit suicide and Drusus Caesar starved to death. Only one heir of the throne was still alive, the young Gaius Caligula. Who later shall become the new emperor.
Sejanus power reached its highest point when he held consular office in the same year as Tiberius. But then he did something that caused his downfall. By plotting hte elimination of the 19 years old Gaius. The key moment was when a arrival of a letter was sent to the Tiberius by his sister-in-law warning him of Sejanus.
Tiberius might have retired to his island he could still ruthlessly exercise power. The Command of the pratorian guard was secretely transferred to one of Tiberius his friends. Naevius Cordus Sertorius Macro, who on 18 October 31 AD had Sejanus arrested for treason during a meeting of the senate. A letter by the emperor to the senate was then read out expressing Tiberius suspicions. Sejanus was duly executed, and his corpse dragged through the streets of Rome and finally thrown int the Tiber.
Tiberius left Gaius and Gernellus as joint heirs. But it was obvious that Gaius would truly succeed him. Tiberius last years were still fraught with morbid and mistrust. It was early in 37 AD that Tiberius fell ill while travelling in Campania. He was taken to his villa in Misenum to recover but died there on 16 of March in 37 AD. He died at the age of 78. It was uncertain if he died naturally or was murdered. If he would have been murdered it would have been on behalf of Caligula.
Younger Tiberius---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Older Tiberius
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 (also to long link.) / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/tiberius-index.html
3)Emperor Caligula. (Reign 37 AD - 41 AD) 4 years.
Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born on August 31, 12 AD. Caligula, which means "little boot". Was a nickname given to him by his father's soldiers. Emperor Tiberius eventuall adopted Caligula making him along with his own son, Tiberius Germellus. Heirs to the throne of Rome. But the senate and the populace chose to have Caligula as sole ruler affter Tiberius died. This was not a good decision of the senate. Tiberius gave very little governmental responsibility to Caligula. Actually Tiberius did not trust Caligula in Rome, because he feared for Caligula's life, and kept him far away of the daily affairs of Rome on a island of Capri. Caligula had no magisterial command, army command, or any other training which would be normal for noble children. He had no experience of any kind making him unprepared to be emperor.
Despite he had no experience, Caligula began his reign in a good way. He was seen as a great man, compared to the reign of Tiberius. When he came into Rome on March 28, 37 AD, the populace flocked to him. He began his reign by following the common pracitce of putting his family in places of power. Caligula quietly dropped an initial request for the deification of the deeply unpopular Tiberius. All around there was much rejoicing at the investment of a new emperor after the dark later years of his predecessor. Caligula paid generous bequest to the people of Rome and an especially handsome bonus to the praetorian guard.
Then six months later on October 37 AD, Caligula fell very ill. His popularity was so great that his illness caused great concern throughout the entire empire. But when Caligula recovered he was never the same. Rome soon found out to be living in a nightmare. According to a historian, Caligula suffered since childhood from epilepsy. In Roman times called parliamentary disease.
This disease affected his mental state, and soon he became totally irrational, with delusions not only grandeur but also of divinity.
He begone to have horrendous nightmares. Often he would be wandering through the palace waiting for daylight.
Caligula soon begone to think he was a living God. This made him kill anyone that he thought was better at something then him.
He also eliminated the senatorial power, armies, and lives. He dealth severly with his senators, humilating them in publicly.
Because of his claim to be a God, he had two temples built for him in 40 AD. He built a floating bridge across the Bay of Baiae and road back with wearing the armor of Alexander the Great. Declaring himself a God caused major backlash in Judea, because the Jewish law said that they could only worship their God. His refusal to revoke the decree that the nations worship him caused a revolution in Judea.
It is no surprise that at least three further conspiracies were launched against Caligula's life. Were some foiled, then one attempt to assassinate Caligula succeeded. The conspirators found a perfect person assassin in the praetorian guard. Cassius Chaerea, whom Caligula had openly mocked at court for his effeminacy. In 24 of January 41 AD Cassius Chaerea, together with two military colleagues fell upon the emperor in a corridor of his palace. Some of his German personal guards rushed to his aid but were to late.
Then several praetorians swept the palace seeking to kill any surviving relatives of Caligula. The secene was truly a awfully one, but it freed Rome from the insane rule of a tyrant. Caligula had been emperor for less then four years.
Sources:Source 1 / http://www.thenagain.info/webChron/mediterranean/Caligula.html / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/caligula-index.html
4)Emperor Claudius. (Reign 41 AD - 54 AD) 13 years.
Claudius sufferd from ill-health and a lack of social skills, for which most believed him mentally handicapped. He received no public office from Augustus except once being invested as an official Roman soothsayer. Under the rule of Tiberius he hold no ofice at all. Generally he was considered an disgrace at court. Under Caligula's reign he was granted a consulship as colleague to the emperor himself in 37 AD. But still he was treated very badly by Caligula. Claudius sufferd public disrespect and scorn from him at court.
His full name was Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, he was born in Lugdunum now Lyon in 10 BC. As the yougest son of Nero Drusus and of Antonia the younger who was the daughter of Marc Antony and Octavia. He was a scholar, historian and writer, who had escaped assassination only because he was seeen by his enemies incapable to ever be a thread to them an imbecile.
At the assassination of Caligula in January 41 AD, Claudius fled in fear to one of the apartments of the palace. And hid behind one of the curtains. He was discovered by the preatorians and taken to their camp, where the two praetorian prefects proposed him to the troops, who hailed him emperor. Now Claudius was made emperor, despite his feebleness and having no military or even administrational expierience at all, is most likely because he was the brother of Germanicus. Who had died in 19 AD and had been very pupular with the soldiery. Also he might have been a puppet emperor, whom one could easily be controlled by the praetorians. The senate wanted first considered the restoration of the republic, but faced with the praetorians decision the senators fell easy in line and bestowed imperial power.
Claudius was the first Roman emperor to assign important executive duties to the freedmen. His four chief assistants all were former slaves. In time they became powerful and strongly influenced Claudius, for which the emperor was severely criticized by his enemies. In making sue of imperial freedmen, Claudius restricted the freeedom and functions of the senators, many of whom were hostile against him. He increased the authority of the equestrian officials, but the chief tendency of his reign was towards greater centralization of power. He was also the first Caesar to secure the support of the army by offering a bribe to each man. Claudius also gave the preatorians a large bonus payment at his accession. 15 000 sesterces per man.
Under Claudius rule things improved very much:
-Civil administration saw detailed improvements.
-In the judiciary increased imperial control over the treasury and provinces.
-The creation of a cabinet of freedmen.
Claudius extended the rights of Roman citizenship to many Gallic leaders, and he enlarged the senate to include a number of men from the Western provinces of the empire. He has put down a revolt by the governor of Dalmatia. In his rule 35 senators and several hundred knights were executed throughout Claudius reign.
Claudis also took care in his function as a judge, presiding over the imperial law-court. He instituted judicial reforms, creating legal safeguards for the weak and defenceless. It was Narcissus who helped Claudius deal with all his matters of correspondence. Narcissus took in 48 AD the necessary actions when the emperor's wife Valeria Messalina and her lover Gaius Silius attempted to overthrow Claudius. Claudius was extremely surprised and appears o have been indecisive and confused as to what to do. Narcissus was the mand who saw what to do with the situation, he had Silius arrested and executed, and Messalina driven into suicide.
But Narcissus was not to benefit from having just saved his emperor. In fact it became the reason of his very downfall. Agrippina became the next wife of emperor Claudius. Agrippina was granted the title of Augusta, a rank no wife has got before ever in Roman history. She saw to it that the freedman Pallas, who was finance minister, soon eclipsed Narcissus powers. And Agrippina was determined to see her twelve year old son Nero take the place of Britannicus as imperial heir. She successfully arranged Nero to be betrothed to Claudius, daughter Octavia. And so Claudius adopted him as son.
Then on the night of the 12 to 13 of October 54 AD Claudius suddenly died. Claudius death is generally attributed to his scheming wife Agrippina who didn't care to wait for her son Nero to reach the throne so poisoned Claudius with mushrooms.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/claudius-index.html / http://hubpages.com/hub/claudius
5)Emperor Nero. (Reign 54 AD - 68 AD) 14 years.
Nero was fair-haired, with weak blue eyes, a fat neck, a pot belly and a body wich smelt and was covered with spots. He usually appeared in public in a sort of dressing gown without a belt, a scarf around his nck and no shoes. In character he was a strange mix between paradoxes, artistic, sporting, brutal, weak, sensual, erratic, extravagant, sadistic, bisexual - and later in life almost certainly deranged person.
Nero was born at Antium now Anzio, on the 15th of December in 37 AD. He was first named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. He descended from a distinguished noble family of the Roman republic. A Domitius Ahenobarbus is known to have been consul in 192 BC, leading troops in the war against Antiochus. When Nero was 2 his mother was banished by Caligula to the Pontian Islands. His inheritance was then seized whe his father died one year later.
With the death of Caligula Agrippina was recalled from exile and her son was given a good education. The task of educating young Nero was given to Lucius Annaeuns Seneca. Further to this Nero was betrothed to Claudius daughter Octavia. Agrippina had Claudius poisoned because Claudius wanted his own son to become emperor. Now Claudius is death, Nero became the new emperor. Agrippina really wanted to rule through Neor, and her portrait briefly appeared on the coins alongside his. But the new emperor paid more heed to his advisors Burrus and the philosopher Seneca, and as a result five years of very good government.
Britannicus son of Claudius was poisoned by Nero a year into the new reign he had his mother put to death too. In 62 AD Burrus died and Seneca retired, this was not good at all. As a result no one was there to guide Nero the restraining influences on Nero was removed. He divorced his wife Octavia, who was later executed, and now Nero married his mistress Poppaea. Two years later a great fire destoryed a large part of Rome, many blamed Nero for setting of the fire. But he accused the Christians back then a minor religious sect, of starting the fire. This all leaded to a campaign of persecution. Nero provide help for Romans made homeless by the big fire and set the neccessary stops in order to rebuilding Rome. Now he had also a large area for a new palace for himself.
It would be unfair however to say Nero didn't do anything, he rebuilded large areas of Rome at his own expense. But people, dazzled by the immensity of the Golden Palace and its parks, nonetheless remained suspicious. Nero was always desperate to be popular, therefore looked for scapegoats on whom he could blame the fire. He found a new religious sect, the Christians. And so many Christians were arrested and brutally executed. In 65 AD there was a serious plot against Nero, Known as the Pisonian Conspiracy. It was led by Gaius Calpurnius Piso. The plot was uncovered and nineteen executions and suicides took place, and thirteen banishments. Piso and Seneca were among those who died. There was never a trail, all whom Nero suspected or disliked or who merely aroused the jealousy of his advisers were sent a note ordering them to commit suicide.
Alas the situation was becoming very serious in Rome. The executions continued. Countless senators, noblemen, and generals, including in 67 AD Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. He was the hero of the Armenian wars and supreme commander in the Euphrates region. By January 68 AD Nero was back in Rome, but things were now too late. In March 68 AD the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vndex, himself Gallic-born, withdrew his oath of allegiance to the emperor and encouraged the governor
of northern and eastern Spain to do the same. Vindex troops wre defeated at Vesontio by the Rhine legions who marched in from Germany, and Vindex committed suicide. However, thereafter these German troops too refused to recognize Nero's authority.
Galba having informed the senate that he was available if required, to head a government, simply waited.
Meanwhile in Rome nothing was actually done to control the crisis. Tigellinus was seriously ill at the time and Nero could only dream up fantastic tortures which he sought to inflict on the rebels once he had defeated them. Aloas, the senate condemned the emperor to be flogged to death. As Nero heard this he wold rather commit suicide then die in the hands of an assassin. He died on 9th of June in 68 AD. His last words were: "What an artist the world loses in me."
Sources: Source 1 / http://www.artchive.com/artchive/r/roman/roman_nero.jpg / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/nero-index.html / http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/nero.shtml
6)Emperor Galba. (Reign 68 AD - 68 AD) 1 year.
Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in 24th of December 3 BC, in a country villa near Tarracina? He was the son of patrician parents, Gaius Sulpicius Galba and Mummia Achaica. Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius all held him in great esteem and so he held successive offices as governnor of Aquitania, consul in 33 AD, military commander in Upper germany, proconsul of Africa in 45 AD. He then made himself a enemy in Nero's mother Agrippina the younger. And so, when she became Claudius wife in 49 AD, he retired from political life for a decade. After the cruel death of Agrippina he returned and in 60 AD was made governor of Hispania Tarraconesis. Galba was almost completely bald and his feet and hands were so crippled by arthrittis that he could not wear shoes, or even hold a book in his hands.
When Nero died, the senate had chosen Galba to be the heir to the Julio-Claudian house. The Senate chose Galba because there was no other suitable Roman With sufficient political status to rule as a successor at the time to the Julio-Claudians. But before Galba had even reached Rome, things began to start going wrong. The commander of the praetorian guard, Nymphidius Sabinus, bribed his men to abandon their allegiance to Nero, then Galba had alwyas found the promised amount too high. So instead of honouring Nymphidius's primis he simple dismissed him and replaced him with a good friend of his won, Cornelus Laco. Nymphidius revolt against this decision was quickly put down and Nymphidius himself was killed. The next move ensured that they hated Galba. The officers of the praetorian guard were all exchanged by favourites of Galba's and, following this, it was announced that the original bribe was not to be reduced but simply not to be paid at all. But not merely the praztorians, the regular legions, too, should not receive any bonus payment to celebrate a new emperor's accession.
Galba's words were, "I choose my soldiers, I do not by them."
It was well known that Galba a man of enormous personal wealth, soon displayed other examples of dire meanness. A commission was appointed to recover Nero's gifts to manh of the leading figures of Rome. His demands were that of the 2.2 billion sesterces Nero had given away, he wanted at least ninety percent to be returned. Many greedy and corrupt individuals in Galba's new government soon destroyed any goodwill towards Galba whick might have existed among the senate and the army. Freedman Icelus was to be said the worst corupt in office of Galba. He was not only rumored to be Galba's homosexual lover, but rumours told of him having stolen more in his seven months in office then all of Nero's freedmen had embezzled in 13 years.
With this kind of government in which you could take money without anybody doing something about it. It was not long before the army revolted against Galba's rule. On the first of January 69 AD the commander of Upper Germany, Hordeonius Flaccus, demanded his troops to renew their oaths of allegiance to Galba. But the two legions based at Moguntiacum refused. They instead swore allegiance to the senate and the people of Rome and demanded a new emperor. The very next day the troops of Lower Germany joined the rebellion and appointed their commander, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. Galba tried to create the impression of dynastic stability by adopting the thirty year-old Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licininaus, as his son and successor.
This was not a smart choice. Otho was greatly disappointed that he wasn't the emperor's first choice to become the heir. Otho was one of the emperor's first supporters, Otho refused to accept this setback and he conspired with the praetorian guard to rid himself of Galba. On the 15th of January 69 AD several praetorians set upon Galba and his adopted son Piso in the Roman Forum, and brutally murdered both and presented their severed heads to Otho in the praetorian camp.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/galba-index.html / http://www.accla.org/actaaccla/galba.html
7)Emperor Otho. (Reign 69 AD - 69 AD) 15 January 69 – 16 April 69
Full name, Marcus Salvius Otho was born at Ferentium in southern Etruria on 28th of April 32 AD. His family did not belong to the old aristocracy, but he had achieved political prominence under the emperors. His grandfather had been promoted from equestrian rank to senator by Augustus and even came to hold the consulship, and his father received patrician status from Claudius. His family had a good time, and Otho would get the highest office that his grandfather and father never manged to get, becoming emperor.
Otho has always been a companion of Nero, maybe even his lover. Until in 58 AD they fell out over Otho's wife, the beatiful Poppaea Sabina. Otho ended up being divorced and sent away as governor of Lusitania, leaving the way free for Nero to marry Poppaea himself. At Galba's take voer against Nero 10 years later, Otho was the first to declare his support. Clearly Otho styled himself, at least in his own view, as a potential heir to Galba's throne. This was based no doubt on the fact he had been the first to pledge his allegiance to the emperor.
Otho was deeply disappointed at Galba's choice who his successor would be. Instead Otho found other means by which to secure himself the throne. Not merely was Otho popular with the army, but Galba was by then loathed by the troops. It was therefore easy for Otho to involve the praetorians in a plot against Galba. Galba and Pios where killed, the senate had little choice but to confirm Otho as emperor. Although, seeing how Otho having taken power, and knowing him a former friend of Nero's. The senators regarded the new emperor with deep suspicion. Despite they gave him the usual powers and privileges. And it can be said that during his short reign, he governed with energy and ability.
The provinces in fact swore allegiance to Otho. On temple walls in Egypt he was depicted as pharaoh. Hoping no doubt to win the favour of the remaining supporters of Nero, Otho ordered that the statues of Nero be restored. He even reinstated some of Nero's officials. In build Otho was a small man with bow legs and feet that stuck out at each side. Vain, he had his body plucked of hairs by sevants. He even wore a wig to conceal his thinning hair. Apparently so well-made was this wig, that no-one suspected.
Otho held the title of princeps for a good eight and a half weeks in Rome from January-March in the chaotic year of 69 AD. Galba's quick demise had surely impressed Otho that the same could happen to him, so he needed to conciliate various groups. As a result, he continued his indulgence of the Praetorian Guard but he also tried to win over the senate by following a strict constitutionalist line and by generally keeping the designations for the consulship made by Nero and Galba. Otho appeared to have support in the provinces to the east and south, especially, the holy land and Asia Minor where coins were issued in his name. But still problems remainded, the praetorians had to be continually placated and they were always suspicious of the senate. On the other hand, the senate itself, along with the people, remainded deeply disturbed at the manner of Otho's coming to power and his willingness to be associated with Nero.
While Otho was consolidating his power in Rome, his power would soon be challenged by Vitellius legions in Gaul and Germany. Vitellius and his legions were advancing for confrontation in Italy. One of the main problems for Otho was he had many loyal legions but they were far away in areas like Pannonia, Dalmatia, and Moesia. Before Otho had received the full strength of his Danubian legions he unwisely decided to force a battle at Bedriacum on the 14th of April, maybe if Otho had retreat to the south and waited for his other legions to arrive he could maybe have won. But his armies were soundly defeated. Neither Otho or Vitellius were at the battle scene, but Otho apparently realized that a new round of fighting would have involved not only a significant re-grouping of his existing troops and also a bloody civil war at Rome. He had seen enough blood been shed.
It was estimated that up to 40 000 soldiers died at Bedriacum. Two weeks shy of his thirty-seventh birthday, on the 16th of April 69 AD he took his own life.
During one of the most chaotic years in Roman history, 69 AD were such factors as an uclear method of imperial succession, a weak senate, and a Praetorian guard and legions willing to sell their support to the highest bidder. This period was so called:
"the year of the four emerors."
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/otho.html / http://www.accla.org/actaaccla/otho.html
8)Emperor Vitellius. (Reign 69 AD - 69 AD) 16 April 69 - 22 December 69
Viellius was born in September 15 AD and spent his youth at Capri. He was on friendly terms with the last three Julio-Claudians and advanced to proconsul of North Africa. Vitellius was a man of some learning and knowledge of government but little military skill or experience. Therefore his appointment by Galba to command in Lower Germany had taken most people by surprise. When Vitellius Reached his troops in November 68 AD they were already considering rebellion against the loathed emperor Galba. In particular the German armies were still angry at Galba, because he didn't gave them a reward for their part in suppressing Julius Vindex. ON the second of January 69 AD, learning that the legions in Upper Germany had refused to swear allegiance to Galba, Vitellius men in Lower Germany, following the example of their commander Fabius Valens, hailed Vitellius emperor.
Vitellius was at Dyon when he learned of the victory of his colonels Valens and Caenina, Otho's suicide and the recognition by the senate. He accepted the tribunician power, the most importent sign of imperial power. He had waited until he had received permission from the senate, an act that must have done something to make him popular with this high college. At the same time to secure his position and blood line, he appointed his son, also called Vitellius, as his successor. He gave him the surname had had accepted four months earlier, Germanicus. Cassius Dio states the child was six years old, but since his sister had reached the marriageable age, it is likely that he must have been older.
Now Vitellius was sole ruler of the empire, he celebrated it with a parade, a speech of praise to the soldiers that were with him, and an order to his armies in northern Italy to send back units to the Rhine, which was like now very dangerously undergarrisoned. Otho's legions were sent back to the Danube. Several centurius were executed, an act that Vitellius would come to regret.
There were few executions and arrests during Vitellius his rule. Vitellius even kept many of Otho's officials in his administration, even granting amnesty to Otho's brother Salvius Titianus, who had been a leading figure in the previous government. All went smooth as it should be, as couriers arrived reporting the allegiance of the eastern armies. The legions having fought for Otho at Cremona also seemed to be accepting the new rule.
Vitellius rewarded his German legions by dispanding the praetorian guard as well as the urban cohorts of the city of Rome and offering the positions to them. this was mostly seen as a very undignified affair, but then Vitellius was only on the throne thanks to the German legions. He must have known that they just gave him power to make him emperor, they could turn on him too. hence he had little choice but to try and please them.
But all this isn't what made Vitellius unpopular. It was his extravagance and his trimphalism. Had Otho died a dignified death, then Vitellius comments on the sent of death of a fellow Roman being very sweet when visiting the battle field of Cremona, did little to endear him to his subjects. But so too his patying, entertaining and betting on the races offended the public.
Vitellius quickly gained a reputation as a glutton. He was said to eat three or four heavy meals a day, usually followed by drink parties, to whic he had himself invited to a different house each time. He was only able to consume this much be frequent bounts of self-induced vormiting. He was a very tall man, with a vast belly. On of his thighs was permanently damaged from being run over by Caligula's chariot, when he had been in a chariot race with that emperor.
His enjoyed a peaceful though unpopular reign, things changed very soon. Around the middle of July news arrived that the armies of the eastern provinces had now rejected him. On the first of July they set up a rival emperor in Palestine, Titus Flavius Vespasianus. A battle-hardened general who enjoyed widespread sympathies among the army. Vespasian's plan was to hold Egypt while his colleagua Mucianus, governor of Syria, led an invasion force to Italy.
But things moved faster then both Vitellius or Vespasian had expected.
The force of Vespasian existed out of five legions, about 30 000 men, it was only the half of what Vitellius had in Italy. But Vitellius could not count on his generals. Valens was ill. And Caecina was betraying Vitellius and trying a join effort with the perfect of the fleet at Ravenna. Attempted to change his allegiance from Vitellius to Vespasian, but his troops didn't obey him, instead arrested him as Primus and Fuscus invaded Italy, their force and that of Vitellius should have meet almost at the same spot where Otho and Vitellius force were fighting. The second battle of Cremona began on 24 October 69 AD and ended the next day in utter defeat for the side of Vitellius. For four days the victorious troops of Primus and Fuscus looted and burned the city of Cremona. What had become of the Romans, killing there own civilians. Would the on going war now finally stop.
General Valens recovered from his decease, attempted to raise forces in Gaul to come to his emperor's aid, but without success.
Primus and Fuscus advanded to Rome, however the army Vitellius sent forth to meet his enemy simple went over them without a fight at Narnia on 17 December. Vitellius not doubt wanted to save his own life and those of his family. Though in a bizarre move his supporters refused to accept this and forced him to return to the imperial palace. In the mean time, the elder brother of Vespasian, who was the prefect of Rome, heard of Vitellius abdication attempted. Together with a few friends, they tried to seize control of the city.
But the perfect his party was attacked by the guards of Vitellius, and fled to the capitol. The following day the capitol went up in flames, including the very ancient temple of Jupiter. The very symbol of the Roman state destroy because of war and succession of the throne. The brother of Vespasian was put to death along with his friends. Only two days after these killings, on 20 December, the army of Primus and Fuscus fought its way into the city. Vitellius wanted to flee to Campania but at this crucial point he strangely changed his mind. He returned to the palace that was about to be stormed by the troops of Vespasian.
Vitellius made a poor and final attempt to try and save himself. He tied a money-belt around his waist and disguised himself in dirty clothes and hid in the door-keepers lodge, piling up furniture against the door to prevent anyone from entering. But a pile of furniture was hardly a match against the Danubian legions? The door was broken down and Vitellus dragged out of the palace and through the sreets of Rome. Half naked, he was hauled to the forum, tortured, killed and thrown into the river Tiber. Such a cruel death for what intention. The Roman people had enough of the wars and wanted peace.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/vitellius.html / http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/emperors/ig/12-Caesars/Vitellius.htm / http://www.livius.org/vi-vr/vitellius/vitellius3.html
9)Emperor Vespasianus. (Reign 69 AD - 79 AD) 10 years.
Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus was born in Falacrina, a small village just beyond Reate in 9 AD, during the reing of Augustus. No one in his family had ever reached high office. Sabinus, his father was a tax collector in Asia and late became a banker in Helvetica. Where he died leaving his wife Vespasia Pollia and two sons, Vespasian and Sabinus. Sabinus reached the rank of City prefect in Rome, but Vespasian dithered, and only stood as a senatorial candidate after his mother's constant and sarcastic use of the phrase your brohter's footman. Once Vespasian had his senatorial stripe, he was ready to begin upon his social life.
Vespasian married Favia Domitilla, which was a politically unambitious match, because of her lack of social standing and family connections. Vespasian and Flavia Domitilla produced three children, a daughter also called Domitilla, and two sons, Titus and Domitian. Both his wife and daughter died before he reached his magistracy. After her death of his wife, Vespasian returned to his forumer mistress Caenis the daughter of Marc Antony. She remained his wife in all but name even during his Emperorship.
During the reign of Tiberius, Vespasian was a military tribune in Thrace and then went on to serve as praetor in Crete and Cyrene. In 40 AD Vespasian was made praetor under Caligula and under Claudius he enjoyed patronage of the powerful minister Narcisssus. During the invasion of Britain in 43-47 AD Vespasian commanded a legion, and distinguished himself with a military successes in the south and southwest of England. In particular he made himself fame when he made use of artillery when assaulting heavily defended positions fortified by earthworks, and had been responsible for taking the Isle of Wight.
This success led to Vespasian's election of consul for 51 AD, and in 63 AD he was proconsul of Africa. This praise was won largely due to Vespasian not following the usual course of milking the province for his own financial gain. In turn however, he did suffer private financial problems and only avoided bankruptcy with help from his brother Sabinus.
In 67 AD he was offered a province and an army command of three legions by Nero. If the emperor was made and wanted to see Vespasian dead, he needed him now. The Jewish rebellion of 67 AD called for a commander who knew of ways to get teh Jews out of their walled cities. Someone had obviously told the emperor of Vespasian's record against the defensive earthworks in Britain. At the age of 58 he headed for Judaea, directed the reduction of Jotapata in the north and began the preparations for the siege of Jerusalem.
On hearing of Nero's death Vespasian formally recognized the rule of Galba. But when news arrived of Galba's murder in early 69 AD, Vespasian prompted to consider rebellion. He had on his side the governor of Syria, at first the two had not got along well, mainly due to Mucianus resenting that Vespasian's military command had been given higher status then his own governorship. But now they both needed allies to fight the crisis following the death of two emperors. Afther Otho's suicide in April 69 AD they formed plans to take action. They both acknowledged Vitellius successful grasp to the throne. But secretly enlisted the support of Alexander in Egypt. Alexander was only of equestrian rank and a Jew. Most saw Vespasian to be the best candidate to become the new emperor. the plan was that Mucianus would lead twenty thousant men into Italy, with Vespasian remaining in the east, where he could control the grain supply to Rome. Though by late August, the Danubian armies also declared themselves for Vespasian.
Antonisu Primus and Cornelisu Fuscus, imperial procurator in Illyricum, now led the Danube legions in a rapid descent on Italy. The commanded a modest force of five legions, perhaps 30 000 me, which was only half of what Vitellius had at his disposal in Italy.
The second battle of Cremona began on 24 October 69 AD and ended the next day in complete victory for the army of Vespasian on 17 December 69 AD. An army was sent to fight Primus and Fuscus but defected to them at narnia, leaving the way free to Rome. Two days later, on 20 December, the army of Primus and Fuscus fought its way into Rome. The following day the senate confirmed Vespasian as emperor. Mucianus arrived soon after.
Vespasian's reign can be characterised as being very conscientious. He had inherited an empire drained by the escesses of previos emperors and shattered by civil war. Vespasian committed himself of rebuilding and restoring Rome, including the Capitol. He also began to construct new buildings:
-A temple to the deified Claudius.
-A temple of Peace.
-The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre)
Among his other acts, Vespasian reformed the Senatorial and Equestrians orders; induced the senate to make laws against various form of debauchery; and reduced to backlog of court cases waiting to be heard. Suetonius indicates that nobody was ever wrongly punished in Vespasian's reign, and only one execution was ever carried out on his orders. Ths man was a critic of the Flavian regime from the start and an advocate of Senatorial independence.
Vespasian claimed that forty thousand million sestertii were needed to complete all his projects, to restor the state on physically and economically ground. Vespasian increased provincial taxation and extracted fees from candidates for office. Despite this apparent avarice Vespasian was very generous to all classes. Vespasian increased the number of legions in the East, where his son, Tius, was still involved with the revolt in Judeae. He also continued the invasion of Britain, capturing the north, pacifying Wales and going into Scotland. He also went into southewest Germany and granted Lation rights to communities, mostly in Spain, thus ensuring the rapid Romanisation of the province.
Vespasian died at Aquae Cutiliae in Sabine country on 23rd June 79 AD, following a brief fever. On his deathbed, he is supposed to have quipped 'Dear me! I must be turning into a god" Afther his death, he indeed became a god and was then interred in the Mausoleum of Augustus. Vespasian was a very disciplined conscientious and witty man with simple tastes. His reign was one of tranquillity and peace, compared to aht of his predecessors. He restored Rom's buildings, and restored prosperity and peace to the empire. He was in all a good example for future emperors, he was after Tiberius the first one to have died of old age and not to be murdered or poisoned. He was also the first man to improve after becoming emperor.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.falcophiles.co.uk/characters/vespasian.html / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/vespasian-index.html / http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romeancientrome/ig/Ancient-Rome/Vespasian.-3xh.htm
10)Emperor Titus. (Reign 79 AD - 81 AD) 2 years.
Titus Flavius Vespasianus was the elder son of emperor Vespasian and his wife Domitilla. Titus was born in 30 AD and became emeperor in 79 AD. From 61 to 63 AD he served in Germany and Britain as a military tribune. After this he returned to Rome and married Arreina Tertulla, the daughter of a former commander of the praetorian guard. But only a year latter his wife died and Titus married yet again, this time Marcia Furnilla. She was of distinguished family, which had connections to opponents of Nero. After the failure of the Pisonian conspiracy, Titus saw it best to be connected in any way with any potential plotters and hence divorced Marcia in 65 AD. In the same year Titus was appointed quaestor, and then became commander of one of his father's three legion in Judaea in 67 AD.
As a young man, Titus was dangerously like Nero in his charm, intellect, ruthlessness, extravagance and sexual desires. Gifted physically and intellectually, exceptionally strong, short with pot-belly, with an authoritative, yet friendly manner and a supposedly excellent memory he was an excellent rider and warrior. He could also sing, play the harp and compose music. His reing was short but he lived long enough to demonstrate that he had some talent for government, but not long enough for any judgement to be made as to haw effective a ruler he would have been.
When in 79 AD a plot against Vespasian's life was revealed to him, Titus acted swiftly and ruthlessly. The two leading conspirators were Eprius Marcellus and Caecina Alienus. Caecina was invited to dine with Titus, to be stabbed to death on arrival. Marcellus was thereafter sentenced to death by the senate and killed himself. Later in 79 AD Vespasian died on June 24th, Titus succeeded to the throne. At first he was deeply unpopular. The senate disliked him, for having no part in his appointment and for having been the ruthless figure in Vespasian's government.
Only one month after Titus rule a disaster strikes that overshadows his reign. The eruption of the Mount Vesuvius volcano destroyed the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae and Oplontis completely. Many managed to escape with the help of the fleet stationed at Misenum. Titus organized a senatorial commission to provide whatever help he could. Yet ths disaster would always remain in Titus membory. Many think the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was a divine punishment for the destruction of the Great Temple in Jerusalem.
But Titus troubles were far from over after the Vesuvian disaster. While he was still in Campania in 80 AD overseeing the operations to aid the victims of the Volcano, a fire ravaged Rome for three days and nights. This was the second big fire to ever happen to Rome. Once more the emperor provided generous relief to the victims. But the worst had still to come, another catastrophe should blight Titus reign. As one of the worst epidemics of plague on record befell the people. The emperor tried his utmost to combat the disease, not only by medical support, but also with extensive sacrifices to the gods.
Titus Finished the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum. It has begun under his father and inaugurated it with a series of lavish games and spectacles. His health had taken a marked downturn by then perhaps Titus knew that he was suffering from an incurable disease. Titus also had no direct heir, making his brother Domitian succeed him.
For all the disasters that happened during his short reign and considering how disliked he was at the outset, Titus became one of Rom's most popular emperors. His death came suddenly and unexpected, on 13th of September 81 AD at his family hoe at Aquae Cutiliae. Some rumours claim the emperor was poisoned by his brother Domitian with fish.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/titus-index.html / http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/emperors/g/Titus.htm / http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/emperors/g/Titus.htm
11)Emperor Domitianus. (Reign 81 AD - 96 AD) 15 years.
Domitian was born in Rome on 24 October 51 AD, the youngest son of Vespasian and Domitilla. Unlike Titus, Domitian was not educated at the emperor's court, yet he received sound training in Rome in the same way as any member of the senatorial elite of his day. Suetonius records that Domitian gave public recitals of his works, conversed elegantly, and produced memorable comments. As emperor he would write and publish a book on baldness. Domitian's mother had long been dead, his father was away much of his teenage years. An obvious outcome of all of his was his preference of solitude, a trait that would contribute to his difficulties with various constituents as emperor.
Little is know of Domitian in the turbulent 18 months of the three emperors, but in the aftemath of the downfall of Vitellius in 69 AD he presented himself to the invading Flavian forces, was hailed as Caesar, and moved into the imperial residence.
Domitian represented the family in the senate and suggested that other that other issues be postponed until Vespasian's arrival from the East. Eager for military glory himself, Domitian led reinforcements to Germany, where the Batavian auxiliaries of the Rhine legions had revolted. It was also during this period, perhaps in late 70 AD, that he married Domitia Longina, daughter of the highly regarded general, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, whom forced Nero to commit suicide in 66 AD.
The name of Corbulo was synonymous with military achievement, aldo the marriga was troubled. And only child died young, and Domitia was probably exiled by her husband 83 AD. Later, she would be recalled to the palace, where she lived with Domitian until his death. Domitian's role i the 70's was largely determined by Vespasian's choice of Titus as his successor. Domitian didn't get tribunician power or censorship like his brother Titus. Domitian was named six times to less prestigious suffect consulship, and held various priesthoods. He was given responsibility, but never realy power. Nothing changed but when Titus died, the senate chose first to honor the dead emperor before elevating his brother. After waiting an extra day, Domitian received imperium, the tile Augustus, and tribuician power along with the office of pontifex maximus and the tile pater patriae, father of his country.
Domitain's autocratic tendencies meant that the real seat of power during his reign resided with his court. Courteirs included family members and feedmen, as well as friends (amici), a group o politicians, generals, and praetorian prefects who offered help on important matters. Most notable the senate, whose role suffered as Domitian deliberately concentrated power in the hands of few senators, while expanding the duties of the equestrian class. At least 11 senators of consular rank were executed and many others exiled, ample attestation of the emperor(s contempt for the body and its membership.
The senate's enthusiastic support for the damning of Domitian's membory, therefore, came as no surprise. Emperor Claudius executeh 35 senatros and upwards of 300 equestrians, yet he was still deified by the senate! Domitain's mistake was that he made no attempt to mask his feelings about the seante. He treated the senate no differently then any other.
Revenge would come in the form of an aristocratically based literary tradition that would miss no opportunity to vilify thoroughly both emperor and his rule.
On 18 September 96 AD, Domitian was assassinated and was succeeded on the very same day by M. Cocceius Nerva, a senator and one of his amici. In many ways, Domitian is still a mystery, he was a lazy and licentious ruler by some accounts. An ambitious admininstrator and keeper of traditional Roman religion by others. Domitian his rule is combined with his solitary personality and fequent absences from Rome, guaranteed a harsh portrayal of his rule. The ultimate truths of his reign remain difficult to know.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-emperors.org/domitian.htm
12)Emperor Nerva. (Reign 96 AD - 98 AD) 2 years.
Full name Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born on the 8 of November at Narnia, 50 miles north of Rome. Nerva was born into the household of a wealthy lawyer whose family was well accustomed to holdings high office. Nerva's great-grandfather had even been consul in 36 BC and his grandfather had been a member of emperor Tiberius imperial entourage. Nerva's mother was even the great-granddaughter of Tiberius. On his aunt on his mother's side of the family was even the great-granddaughter of Tiberius.
In his early career Nerva did not seek to hold any military or public speaking career but he did manage to hold various priesthoods, and the positon of Praetor-desiginate. Nerva's career under the emperors took off when he uncovered a plot against emperor Nero, who as a result, rewarded him by giving him trimphural honours and placing his statues and busts throughout the imperial palace. Nerva's favour with the emperors continued into the Flavian dynasty and he had served as consol with Vespasian, in the year 71 AD, as well as with the unpopular and fearful emperor. It is around this time that it is said that Nerva withdrew from public life fife for unknown reasons.
Upon the assination of Domitian in 96 AD, Nerva was immediately made emperor by the senate and set out to accomplish much in his short reign. Nerva reputed many of Domitian's acts and descisions. He renamed Domitian's extravagant new palace in honour of the Roman people and lived in a more modest setting. Nerva also took an oath stating that he would not ever kill, or harm, any memer of the Senate. Even when senator Calpurnius Crassus was proven guilty of conspiracy against Nerva.
The new emperor also released prisioners and recalled any exiles of Domitian who where not guilty of any serious crimes.
Dimitian had been despised by the senate. Most people that served under Domitian where happy to see Nerva become emperor. Nerva's popularity amongst the senators earned him the title (pater Patrae) Father of the country at the beginning of his reign. For such honours other emperors had to wait for years. Nerva's policies were largely ment to increase his popularity, but could also been seen as a good government. Storehouses were built for grain, and aquaeducts received much-needed repairs and maintenance. More exemptions from inheritance tax were granted and land was distributed to the poor. Nerva used much of his own wealth to help and pay for the costs of such measures.
Alas the relations with the military reached a crisis point in summer of 97 AD. Nerva had made a big mistake of replacing the praetorian prefects Secundus and Norbanus, both could not keep their positions after beig part in the assassination of Domitian.
Instead Casperius Aelianus, a former supporter of Domitian, had been put in charge of the guards. And so the praetorian guard under its new leader mutinied against Nerva.
He was imprisoned in the palace and was forced to give Petronius and Parthenius, as well as the previous prefect Secundus, be handed over for execution by the praetorians. Because all 3 have been involved in the murder of Domitian.
Nerva bravely resisted these demands, even baring his own throat to the soldiers, that the shold kill him rather then killing Petronius and Parthenius. But such offer was in vain, as the praetorians seized their helpless victims and dragged them away. Petronius met the more merciful death, being killed with a single blow of the sword. The happless Parthenius meanwhile had his genitals from his body and pushed into his month before finally having his throat cut. And with all that just happen wasn't enough Nerva was forced to thank the praetorians in public for these executions.
Nerva remained unharmed, but his authority was left in tatters by this incident. An emperor without the support of the army could not reign long. Nerva was a skilled politician, and now made his most inspired move of all. As a childless emperor, his death would leave the throne vacant, unless Nerva should choose to adopt an heir. And so Nerva selected as his heir, the governor of Upper Germany, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus. Trajanus enjoyed tremendous respect and support amongst the army as well as the senate, and appeared to all to embody all that Rome seeks in a emperor. With Trajan as heir, no-one dared challenging Nerva's position again.
Nerva died after a brief reign of only 16 months, on 28 of January in 98 AD. In a fit of anger he suddenly began sweating profusely. Soon after this it developed into a fever, and he died shortly afterwards. His ashes were placed in the Mausoleum of Augustus, next to those of the Julio-Claudian emperors. Even the gods, so it seemed, were saddened at his death, on the same day has his burial there was an eclipse of the sun.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/nerva-index.html / http://www.hadrians.com/rome/romans/emperors/emperor_nerva.html / http://library.thinkquest.org/26907/emperors/nerva.htm
13)Emperor Trajanus. (Reign 98 Ad - 117 AD) 19 years.
Trajaus was born in a Spanish provincial family of Roman origins. His father was a provincial governor and honoured by Emperor Vespasian, who made him a consul and enrolled him among the patricians. The younger Trajanus held the usual magistracies and became commander of a legion and later governnor of Upper Germany. Trajanus automatically succeeded as emperor on Nerva's death in 98 AD. He was the first Roman emperor born outside Italy. Trajanus married pompeia Plotina, who persuaded him to adopt Hadrian, as Trajanus had no children of his own.
The entry of Trajanus at Rome in 99 AD was very successful. Upon his entry crowds rejoiced. Trajanus entered Rome on foot. In addition he embraced every senator and what is most amazing he walked amongst the ordinary citizens of Rome. Not one of the emperors demonstrated such modesty and openness to the people of Rome and the senators. In such a way Trajanus earned a lot of support during the first years of his rule.
Under his rule the program of public works was significantly extented. The program continuously increased. He renovated the networks of roads in Italy. The sections that went through wetlands were paved or placed on embankments. During his reign many brigges were constructed. He organized the provisions for poor people, especially for children. There were special imperial funds created, called (alimenta). This system would still be used 200 years after his death.
In foregin policy Trajanus was aggressive. In 101 AD he set out for his first Dacian campaign and celebrated a trimph in 103 AD, when he took the title Dacicus. Trajan's sculptured column in the Forum of Trajan at Rome. The column was 100 Roman feet high, and stood on a pedestal. It was constructed by Trajan in 113 AD to commemorate his victories over the Dacians, and shows vivid scenes from the campaigns on a spiral band about 30 meter high which winds up the shaft. Trajanus his tomb was in the pedestal of the column, and his stute stood on its top. Now replaced by one of St Peter.
In Africa he extened the southern boundaries of Numidia to open ap more agricultural land and on the eastern frontier he annexed the kingdom of the Nabateans, which became the province of Arabia. His second campaign opened in 104 AD and was entirely successful. The Dacian King Decebalus committed suicide in 106 AD, the capital Sarmizegethusa became the Roman colony of Ulpia Trainana, and Dacia itself was made a Roman province. Because of these victories, celebrations where hold that lasted for 123 days at Rome.
He then turned his attention to Rome's traditional enemy, Parthia. Armenia was a buffer state between the two superpowers, was made a Roman imperial province and Trajanus forces went to conquer Upper Mesopotamia. Two campaigns where enoufh to overrun, but not defeat the Parthians, and the province of Mesopotamia was formed.
Some time later the rebellions of the Jew in the middle east along with the conquered Mesopotamians started weakening Trajan's position. He was not able to continue his campaign and withdrew Roman armed forces to Syria. Suffering from some circulatory problems, which are believed to be brought by poison, Trajanus had a stroke that mostly paralyzed him. He died on the 9th of August in 117 AD in Selinus, Cilicia. His body was cremated and then Trajan's ashes were brought back to Rome and placed in an urn made of pure gold. The urn was placed into the base of Trajan's Column.
Trajanus was to be remembered for decades to come. During the 4th century the senate was still searching for an emperor that would be more "fortunate then Augustus and better then Trajanus."
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://hubpages.com/hub/trajan / http://www.dig4coins.com/articles/ancient-coins/roman-emperor-marcus-ulpius-trajanus-ad-52-ad-117
14)Emperor Hadrianus. (Reign 117 AD - 138 AD) 21 years
Full name: Publius Aelius Hadrianus, born on the 24th of January 76 AD, probably at Rome. Though his family lived in Italica in Baetica, having originally come from Picenum in norht-eastern. When this part of Spain was opened up to Roman settlement, Hadrian's family had lived in Italica for some three centuries. With Trajanus also coming from Italica, and Hadrianus father, Publius Aelius Hadrianus after, being his cousin, Hadrianus obscure provincial family now found itself having impressive connections.
At the age of ten, Hadrianus went to Italica for teh first time, where he remained for only a short time. He then returned to the capital and soon began a rapid rise through the cursus honorum; he was a military tribune of three different legions in consecutive years, a series of appointments which clearly marked him for a military career, and he reached the consulate at the age of 32, the earliest possible age to principate. At the death of Trajanus, he was legate of the province of Syria, with responsibility for the security of the east in the aftermath of Trajanus Parthian War.
In 97 AD when Trajan, based in Upper Germany was adopted by Nerva, it was Hardrianus who was sent from his base to carry the congratulations of his legion to the new imperial heir. But in 98 AD Hadrianus seized the great opportunity of Nerva's death to carry the news to Trajanus. He was the first to carry this news to the new emperor he raced to Germany. With others also seeking to be he bearers of the good news to, no doubt it was quite a race, with many an obstacle being purposely placed in Hadrianus way. But he succeeded, even travelling the last stages of his journey on foot. Trajanus gratitude was assured and Hadrianus indeed became a very close friend of the new emperor.
In mid-summer 117 AD, when Trajanus was returning from his Parthian campaigns, he fell ill while at Selinus in Cilicia and died on the 8th of August. The following day his adoption of Hadrian was announced by Plotina and Attianus, the praetorian prefect who had earlier been Hadrianuns guardian. On the 11th of August the army of Syria hailed its legate, Hadrianus as new emperor. Which made the senate's formal acceptance an almost meaningless event. This was an example of the historian Tactius that an emperor could be made elsewhere than in Italy.
Right from the start Hadrianus made it clear he makes his own decisions. One of his very first decisions was the abandonment of the eastern territories which Trajanus had just conquered during his last campaign. Had Augustus a century before told all that his successor should keep the empire within the natural boundaries of the rivers Rhine, Danube and Euphrates, then Trajanus had broken that rule and had crossed the Euphrates. On Hadrianus order once pulled back to behind the Euphrates again. Such withdrawel, the surrender of territory for which the Roman army had just paid in blood, will hardly have been popular. Hadrianus did not travel directly back to Rome, but first set out for the Lower Danube to deal with trouble with the Sarmatians at the border. While he was there he also confirmed Trajanus annexation of Dacia. The memory of Trajanus, the Dacian gold mines and the army's misgivings about withdrawing from conquered lands clearly convinced Hadrianus that it might not be wise to withdraw behind the natural boundaries advised by Augustus. If he would leave Dacia and surrender it, he would not only make himself unpopular, but lose the gold mines there.
If Hadrianus set out to rule as his beloved predecessor, then he got off to a bad start. he had not arrived in Rome yet and four respected senators, all ex-consuls, were killed. They 4 have all been killed for plotting against Hadrianus. Many however saw these executions as a way by which Hadrianus was removing any possible danger to his throen. All four had been friends of Trajanus.
Gaius Nigrinus one of the four senators was so wealthy and influential politician that he had been seen as a possible successor to Trajanus.
But what makes the affair of the four consulars especially unsavoury is that Hadrianus refused to take any responsibility for this matter. He even went so far swearing a public oath that he was not responsible. More so he said that the senate had been responsible for the executions, before placing the blame firmly on Attianus, the praetorian prefect. However, if Attianus was guilty in the eyes of Hadrianus, it was hard to understand why the emperor would have made him consul thereafter.
Hadrianus was a man of extraordinary talents, certainly one of the most gifted that Rome ever produced.
-He became a fine public speaker.
-He was a student of philosophy and other subjects, who could hold his own with the luminaries in their fields.
-He wrote both an autobiography and poetry.
-He was a superb architect.
It was in this last area that he left his greatest mark, with several magnificent buildings and complexes stemming from his fertile mind. He rebuilt Agrippa's Pantheon into remarkable building that survives still today, reconstrucing the accustomed temple facade, with columns and pediment, but attaching it to a drum which was surmounted by a coffered dome. The dome remained the largest in the world until the 20th century. To complete Trajanus forum, which ad been planned by Apollodorus on a tremendous scale, he added a large temple dedicated to the deified Trajanus and Plotian.
Hadrianus showed a great interest in law and appointed a famous African jurist, to create a definitve revision of the edicts which had been pronounced every year by the Roman praetors for centuries. This collection of laws was a milestone in Roman maw and provided the poor with at least a chance of gaining some limited knowledge of the legal safeguards to which they were entitled.
In 136 AD Hadrianus health began to fail, sought an heir before he would die, leaving the empire without a leader. He was 60 years old now. Perhaps he feared that, being without an heir might make him vulnerable to a challenge to the Throne as he grew more frail. Or he he simple sought to secure a peaceful transition for the empire. Hadrianus adopted Lucius Ceionius Commondus as his succesor. Once more the side of Hadrianus was showed, as he orderd the suicide of those he suspected to be opposed to Commodus accession. Though he was only in his thirties, and suffering from bad health made sure he was already dead by the first of January 138 AD.
A month after Commondus death, Hadrianus adopted Antoninus Pius, a highly respected senator, on one condition that the childless Antoninus in turn would adopt Hadrianus young newhew Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (son of Commondus) as heirs.
Hadrianus final days were a grim affair. He became even more ill and spent extended periods in severe distress. As he sought to end his life with either a blad or poison, his servants grew ever more vigilant to keep such items from his grasp. At one point he even convinced a barbarian servant by name of Mastor to kill him, but he failed to obey.
Desparing, Hadrianus left governmetn in the hands of Antoninus Pius, and retired, dying soon afterwards at the pleasure resort of Baiae on the 10th of July 138 AD. Had Hadrianus been a brilliant administrator and had he provided an empire with stability and peace for 20 years, he died as a very unpopular man. It was only with reluctance that the senate accepted Antoninus Pius request to deify Hadrianus.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/hadrian-index.html / http://www.hadrians.com/rome/romans/emperors/emperor_hadrian.html
15)Emperor Antoninus Pius. (Reign 138 AD - 161 AD) 23 years.
Complete name: Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionus Arrius Antoninus, was born on 19th of September 86 AD at lanuvium. His family had long before come from the city of Nemausus in southern Gaul, but for a long time since they had been a prominent and distinguished family at Rome. the father of Antoninus, Titus Aurelius Fulvus, had held the office of consul once in 89 AD, his grandfather even manged to held it twice.
Antoninus Pius is seen as one of the "Five Good Emperors" in Roman history. After the sudden death of L. Aelius Caesar, Antoninus was officially adopted by Hadrianus on February 25, 138 as successor to the thorne. After administering the imperial offices, Hadrian died and Antoninus became emperor.
As a boy Antoninus grew up at Lorim in southern Etruria, roughly 10 miles to the west of Rome. He was raised first by his paternal grandfather, as Antoninus father died when he was still young. On the death of his grandfather, the matrnal grandfather took charge of him. Inheriting the wealth of both his grandfaters made Antoninus one of the richest men in Rome. He begins on the traditional career for a senator, climbing the ladder of various offices, achieving the post of quaestor, then praetor and finally in 120 AD consul under emperor Hadrianus. After Hadrianus chose him to be one of the four high judges who administered the law in Italy.
Hadrianus died in 138 AD after a long and painful illness and Antonius became the next emperor of Rome. Hadrianus had died like an unpopular man because of his tyrannical attitude in his final years and the senate was about to refuse him deification, but Antonius intervened and swayed the senate into deifying the dead emperor. The senate liked Antonius's qualities of loyalty to Hadrianus and so gave him the title, Pius. Despite his consulship and remarkable conduct as governor of Asia, Antoninus experience was fairly limited of government. He still possessed no knowledge of any military matters whatsoever and, other than his stay in the province of Asia, he had never been beyond the borders of Italy. So it was clearly his impressive person, honourable, sound and clearheaded, which won him the senate respect and that of the emperor.
In the area of public works, Antonius did not do as much as his predecessors. Antonius spent most of his building time finsihing projects that were started by Hadrianus. Among his works, he completed Hadrian's Mausoleum as well as building temples to the divine Hadrianus and to his dead wife, Faustina. Antonius also restored the Pons Sublicius, the oldest bridge in Rome. And restored the Coliseum and the Graecostadium. Outside of Rome, Antonius repaired many roads and renovated many ports throughout the empire. Antonius also built a public bath in Ostia an aqueduct in Antium and many temples in his home town of Lanuvium.
In financial matters, Antonius ruled wisely, he returned all the money that Italains had raised for him and half of what the provinces raised as it was custom for every new emperor to get a huge cash gift from the people. He continued the proccess of alimentary that was begun by his successors by setting money aside for the care of orphaned girls. Antonius also made sure he saw to the happiness of the people and routinely gave out gifts of cash and held grand games.
Antonius was seen as a very generous man.
Antonius did not travel the empire like his predecessor, in fact he hardly ever left the capital at all during his rule of 23 years.
And if he left eh would never move much further away from Rome than Campania or Etruria. He said he was worrieed for the expenses he would make if he might incur upon a province, if he chose to travel. Antoninus reign is much known for its peace and tranqulity, it is thanks to the calm of the man, rather then because there being true peace along the borders of the empire.
Alas, Antoninus died after a very short illness in his sleep, having handed the reins of government to his adopted son Marcus Aurelius on that very day, 7th of March 161 AD. Antoninus died as a very popular man and was immediately deified by the senate without opposition. His body was laid to rest in the Mausoleum of Hadrianus, together with the body of his wife and sons, who had all died much sooner.
Sources: Source 1 / Source 2 / http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/antoninus.html / http://www.thenagain.info/Webchron/mediterranean/AntoniusPius.html / http://library.thinkquest.org/26907/emperors/antonius.htm
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+rep but I forgot to add a message... oops!
Originally Posted by Stavroforos
