1. Roman Emperors

2. Where the Trouble Started… Augustus unable to produce heir Augustus unable to produce heir Died in 14 CE Died in 14 CE "Alas for the Roman people, to be ground by jaws that crunch so slowly!" "Alas for the Roman people, to be ground by jaws that crunch so slowly!"

3. Tiberius (Tiberius Claudius Nero) Augustus’ adopted son Augustus’ adopted son Reigned from 14-37 CE Reigned from 14-37 CE Never wanted to be emperor Never wanted to be emperor Failed at “playing Augustus” Failed at “playing Augustus”

4. Bad Behavior in Public Treason trials Treason trials Rarely left Rome Rarely left Rome Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Neglected Public Works, Augustus’ Temple, Pompey’s Theatre Neglected Public Works, Augustus’ Temple, Pompey’s Theatre Daily executions Daily executions Nearly every crime became punishable by death Nearly every crime became punishable by death

5. More Succession Problems Tiberius withdrawn in later years Tiberius withdrawn in later years No heir named, immediate family dead No heir named, immediate family dead Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Died March 16, 37 CE Died March 16, 37 CE

6. Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) Son of Germanicus, a great Roman general Son of Germanicus, a great Roman general Nickname stuck- “little soldiers’ boots” Nickname stuck- “little soldiers’ boots” Very popular with the masses and soldiers Very popular with the masses and soldiers Reigned from 37 to 41 CE Reigned from 37 to 41 CE

7. No Problems at First Caligula appeals to Roman people Caligula appeals to Roman people Recalled exiles Recalled exiles Held banquets and gave many gifts Held banquets and gave many gifts Revived Public Works Revived Public Works However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever” However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever”

8. …Possibly Drove Him Insane Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Declared himself a living god Declared himself a living god Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Killed several relatives, painfully Killed several relatives, painfully

9. More Exploits Hoped for natural disasters Hoped for natural disasters Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Created poisons in spare time Created poisons in spare time Named his horse to the council Named his horse to the council Palace on the water Palace on the water Emptied treasury Emptied treasury Altered the games unexpectedly Altered the games unexpectedly Secretly killed people for fun Secretly killed people for fun Had people tortured while he was eating Had people tortured while he was eating

10. Caligula Assassinated… 41 CE, Caligula violently stabbed to death 41 CE, Caligula violently stabbed to death Issue of succession comes up again… Issue of succession comes up again… Augustus took special measures to ensure that Tiberius Claudius would not become emperor Augustus took special measures to ensure that Tiberius Claudius would not become emperor Only one ‘capable’ left alive Only one ‘capable’ left alive

11. Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) Reigned from 41 to 54 CE Reigned from 41 to 54 CE Historians have differing opinions on his character Historians have differing opinions on his character Generally agreed that he had some forms of physical disabilities Generally agreed that he had some forms of physical disabilities

12. Better than the Last Two.. Erratic court behavior Erratic court behavior Paranoid Paranoid Easily swayed by others Easily swayed by others Killed thirty-five senators and 300 equites Killed thirty-five senators and 300 equites Gluttony Gluttony Bribery Bribery Adopted Nero Adopted Nero

13. Succession Once Again Disputed Claudius died in 54 CE Claudius died in 54 CE Senate was naturally concerned with safety Senate was naturally concerned with safety Claudius named his adoptive son Nero as heir Claudius named his adoptive son Nero as heir Not many options… Not many options…

14. Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) Became emperor at age sixteen Became emperor at age sixteen Influenced by Agrippina and Seneca early in reign. Influenced by Agrippina and Seneca early in reign. Ruled from 54 to 68 CE Ruled from 54 to 68 CE Promised to rule as Augustus had Promised to rule as Augustus had Difficult to discern fact from fiction. Difficult to discern fact from fiction.

15. Nero’s Offenses Forced senators to do battle in the gladiatorial games Forced senators to do battle in the gladiatorial games Shows he put on were dangerous at times Shows he put on were dangerous at times Would ignore pleas to return to Rome Would ignore pleas to return to Rome Would don a disguise and attack men at night Would don a disguise and attack men at night Petty crimes Petty crimes Emptied treasury Emptied treasury Seized assets of those ‘disloyal’ to him Seized assets of those ‘disloyal’ to him Matricide Matricide Fratricide Fratricide Gruesomely killed aunt Gruesomely killed aunt

16. Great Fire of Rome 64 CE 64 CE Strongly suspected Nero caused fire Strongly suspected Nero caused fire “fiddled while Rome burned” “fiddled while Rome burned” Lasted six days, seven nights Lasted six days, seven nights

17. Persecution of Christians First emperor to do so First emperor to do so Would throw parties lit by Christians on burning crosses Would throw parties lit by Christians on burning crosses Blamed fire on them Blamed fire on them Suspicious due to their strange rituals and monotheism Suspicious due to their strange rituals and monotheism

18. End of Julio-Claudians Nero committed suicide in 68 CE Nero committed suicide in 68 CE No living male relatives No living male relatives Start of Flavian dynasty soon to follow Start of Flavian dynasty soon to follow Rome may never have truly recovered Rome may never have truly recovered Start of Flavian dynasty under Vespasian Start of Flavian dynasty under Vespasian

19. Flavians Following Nero’s death, civil wars raged in Rome Four military leaders claimed throne in turn Last, Vespasian reestablished order, as did reigns of two sons Stability returned under Flavians

20. The Good Emperors 96 CE, new line of emperors established— Good Emperors Five rulers governed Rome for almost a century From provinces different than Rome, continued opening Roman imperial society

21. Nerva (96-98 CE) Nerva (96-98 CE) Considered a wise and moderate ruler Considered a wise and moderate ruler Trajan (98-117 CE) Trajan (98-117 CE) Strong military leader that put down revolts and lead to an era of peace Strong military leader that put down revolts and lead to an era of peace Hadrian (117-138 CE) Hadrian (117-138 CE) Built the Pantheon in Rome and Hadrian’s Wall in England Built the Pantheon in Rome and Hadrian’s Wall in England Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE) Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE) Deified his father, Hadrian, and released senators sentenced to death by his father Deified his father, Hadrian, and released senators sentenced to death by his father Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) Strong military and civil leader Strong military and civil leader The Good Emperors

22. Empire grew tremendously under Good Emperors Reached limits of expansion under Trajan Reached limits of expansion under Trajan Added what are now Romania, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and the Sinai Peninsula Added what are now Romania, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and the Sinai Peninsula Successor Hadrian thought empire too large Successor Hadrian thought empire too large Withdrew from almost all eastern additions Withdrew from almost all eastern additions Built defensive fortifications to guard against invasions Built defensive fortifications to guard against invasions Built wall 73 miles long in northern Britain Built wall 73 miles long in northern Britain