The Decline of Rome’s Empire

The Empire at its height, c 250

He initiated the adoptive system to provide for competent rulers Emperor Nerva r 96-98 He initiated the adoptive system to provide for competent rulers Roman Emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became Emperor at the age of sixty-five, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty On 18 September 96, Domitian was assassinated in a palace conspiracy involving members of the Praetorian Guard and several of his freedmen. On the same day, Nerva was declared emperor by the Roman Senate. This was the first time the Senate elected a Roman Emperor. As the new ruler of the Roman Empire, he vowed to restore liberties which had been curtailed during the autocratic government of Domitian. A revolt by the Praetorian Guard in October 97 essentially forced him to adopt an heir. After some deliberation Nerva adopted Trajan, a young and popular general, as his successor. After barely fifteen months in office, Nerva died of natural causes on 27 January 98. Upon his death he was succeeded and deified by Trajan.

Marcus Aurelius r 161-180 He broke the adoptive pattern of succession by naming his son, Commodus as his heir and next emperor ruled from the year 161AD until his death in 180AD. He was the fifth and final of what is referred to as the Five Good Emperors. Many historians consider him to be extremely important when comes to stoic philosophy.

Commodus r 180-192 His rule was one of debauchery, paranoia and insanity Had Rome renamed as colonia Commodiana Believed he was Hercules reborn Most infamous act: slaughtered physically handicapped people dressed up as mythical enemies of the gods Commodus succeeded his father as Augustus in 180. His rule of twelve years quickly degenerated into debauchery, paranoia and insanity. He actually believed he was Hercules reincarnated and participated in gladiatorial contests. The empire was directed by his unscrupulous favorites while the emperor amused himself in whatever decadent way he saw fit. His assassination in 192 A.D. was viewed as a blessing by most Romans of the day.

The Crisis of the 3rd Century: Anarchy and Disorder: From 235-285, there were 26 Soldier Emperors, 25 of whom died violent deaths Referred to as “Barracks emperors” their power was derived from the military which sold itself to the highest bidder. Military mutinies and civil wars replaced protection of the borders.

Two Emperors who tried to contain the awesome forces of disintegration: Both Diocletian (285-305) and Constantine (306-337) faced the problem of threats to the borders from the Germans and from Persia They also had to deal with the on-going economic crises that was eroding the high standard of living which characterized the Pax Romana

Diocletian To insure production of goods, farmers, artisans and unskilled workers had to hold their job for life and pass it on to their children Fixed prices on all goods grown or manufactured

Diocletian, The Tetrarchy, 285-305 In 285, Diocletian (from Yugoslavia) gave himself Thrace, Asia Minor and Egypt; Co-emperor Maximian , shared title of Augustus and ruled Italy, Africa and Spain. Two subordinated were given the title Caesar- Galerius ruled the Balkans and Constantius ruled Gaul and Britain.

Constantine, 306-331 280- 337) was The first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, turning the empire into a Christian state

In 324, Constantine moves East In 324 the Roman Emperor Constantine was very concerned about the barbarian invasions, which were literally at the gates of Rome. So Constantine moved the Empire’s capital to a little known Greek colony called Byzance. As the Western Empire fell apart and disappeared in 476, the Eastern Empire based in Byzance or Constantinople survived until 1453. Byzance became the great city of Constantinople. The Eastern Empire or Byzantium founded a rich culture based on Greek traditions and Christianity. Byzantium has also left us its own story thanks to one of its greatest writers, the historian Anna Comnena, the daughter of the emperor Alexius.

The Germanic Tribes c. 362

Turning point: Battle of Adrianople, 378 Rome faced its worst defeat since the Battle of Cannae (Hannibal) The Emperor Valens was captured and killed The Goth cavalry was superior over the Roman foot soldiers Significance: Rome could no longer secure its borders against new tactics of warfare

Theodosius, 379-385 The last Emperor to who could claim to rule both East and West. Upon his death, the empire was divided between his two sons, Arcadius (East) and Honorius (West) Following on the defeat and death of Valens at Adrianople, Theodosius came to power and divided the empire to his two sons, Arcadius and Honorius. Arcadius paid of the threatening Goths to attack his brother in the west. Under Alaric the Goth, they did just that, attacking Rome in 410.

Visigoth chief Alaric was the first non-Roman to rule the city in 800 years. He left in three days, after highly-organized, but relatively non-violent looting.

End of an Empire: 476 Romulus Augustulus, the last Roman Emperor was deposed by a German chieftan named Odoacer who claimed the western crown for himself.

Rome’s last gasps… Theodoric the Great 489-526 - Ostrogoth king ruled Italy from Rome… after killing Odoacer His rule was enlightened, peaceful and just- praised by Romans & barbarians. Retained the Roman Senate, civil service and schools. Old, aristocratic families still held high positions in the government From the 6th to the 8th centuries, Europeans struggled to overcome the disorder created by the break-up of the roman empire. In the process a new civilization, combining the Greco-Roman tradition with Christianity and Germanic culture evolved.

The real end of Rome… By 544 Totila had established control of northern Italy at Ravenna. In 546, his Gothic army sacked Rome, destroying baths, sewers, aqueducts, temples and government buildings.