The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Strange Rome’s Best and Worst Emperors
After Agustus Caesar died… The Julian-Claudians took the throne, they were some of the worst rulers Tiberius Caligula Nero
Tiberius 14-37 AD Stepson of Octavian Married step-sister (Octavian’s daughter) Exiled himself Possibly murdered nephew Killed most of family Incest
Caligula (Great Nephew of Tiberius; adopted grandson) 37-41 Mentally disturbed Many wives Incest with sisters Heavy taxation Brothel Assassinated-so were his wife and daughter Succeeded by Claudius (Uncle)
Nero 54-68 (Great nephew to Claudius) Good administrator but vicious Murdered many Persecuted Christians Attempted to murder mother X6 Murdered ex-wives Murdered Christians Committed suicide
The Good Emperors Gradually peace came about under the “Good Emperors” Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius During their rules the empire increased in size and wealth.
Nerva 96-98 (served under Nero and following emperor) Began choosing heir Oath – wouldn’t execute Senators Released innocent prisoners and exiles Loans+5% interest = support needed children No gold/silver statues
Trajan 98-117(adopted son of Nerva) Empire reached its greatest extent Undertook vast building program Social welfare grew
Hadrian 117-138 (second cousin of Trajan) Consolidated earlier conquests Reorganized the bureaucracy
Antoninus Pius 138-161 (son in law of Hadrian) Reign largely a period of peace and prosperity
Marcus Aurelius 161-180 Brought empire to height of economic prosperity Defeated invaders Wrote philosophy
Diocletian 245-313 Doubled size of Roman armies Claimed descent from gods Persecuted Christians Divided empire into East and West
Constantine 285-337 1st Christian emperor Legalized Christianity Reunited East and West Moved capital and renamed Constantinople