THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIREThe Julio-Claudians through the 5 Good Emperors

The Julio-Claudians (27 B.C. – 68 A.D.)

Augustus (27 B.C. - 14 A.D.) Tiberius (14 - 37) Gaius Caligula (37 - 41) Claudius (41 - 54) Nero (54 - 68)

Julio-Claudian Family Tree

Augustus (27 B.C. – 14 A.D.)

Augustus (27 B.C. – 14 A.D.)

1st Emperor of Rome Begin the “Pax Romana” Ruled longer than any other emperor Adopted by Julius Caesar Held multiple titles including “Princeps,”

“Imperator,” and “Pater Patriae” Father of Julia Built numerous buildings including the Pantheon,

Mausoleum of Augusts, Temple of Mars Ultor, Ara Pacis, Theater of Marcellus, and the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine

Tiberius (14 – 37)

Tiberius (14 – 37)

Son of Livia and step-son of Augustus Was married to Julia, but later divorced Not Augustus’ 1st choice as his heir Considered to be frugal with state

money Advised by the notorious head of

praetorian guard, Sejanus Spent last half of reign in voluntary exile

on the island of Capri

Caligula (37 – 41)

Caligula (37 – 41)

Son of Germanicus Name means “little boots” Started as a “good emperor” Provided lavish entertainments for the people Suffered a breakdown or fever during reign Became a “monster” according to Suetonius Allegedly committed incest with his sisters Squandered all the money that Tiberius had

saved Assassinated by his own praetorian guard

Claudius (41 – 57)

Claudius (41 – 57)

Caligula’s uncle and one of his few surviving relatives

Had a limp and a stutter Had been made Pontifex Maximus by Caligula Made Emperor by the Praetorian Guard Was an excellent administrator (and historian) Conquered Britain and made it a province Built the Aqua Claudia, which still runs today

and feeds the Trevi Fountain

Claudius (41 – 57)

Married Agrippina, Caligula’s younger sister

Adopted Nero, son of Agrippina, at her insistence

Was eventually poisoned by Agrippina

Nero (54 – 68)

Nero (54 – 68)

Married his cousin, Octavia (daughter of Claudius)

Tutored by Seneca, a famous philosopher Beginning of reign started well Divorced and later executed Octavia so he could

marry Poppaea Nero then kicked Poppaea to death while she

was pregnant Then married Messalina Had a boyfriend named Sporus, who resembled

Poppaea

Nero (54 – 68)

The great fire of 64 allowed him to buy a great expanse of land to build his Domus Aurea

Went on a tour of Greece so he could participate in the Olympic Games. He won gold medals in every event that he participated in

There were several conspiracies against his life The army, led by Galba, revolted against Nero Tried to commit suicide by a slave had to finish

him off “What an artist the world is losing!” were his final

words

The Year of the 4 Emperors

Galba (68 - 69)Otho (69)Vitellius (69)Vespasian (69 - 79)

Galba (68 - 69)

Otho

Vitellius

The Flavians (69 – 96)

Vespasian (69 - 79)Titus (79 - 81)Domitian (81 - 96)

Vespasian (69 - 79)

Vespasian (69 - 79)

A career soldier and distinguished general Under Nero, served as governor of Judea and

began to suppress the Jewish revolt After he was made emperor, his son Titus

finished suppressing the revolt and brought back thousands of slaves to Rome

The final battle came at the fort of Masada Imposed numerous taxes to replenish the state

treasury, including a tax on public urinals Began construction of the Colosseum in 73

Titus (79 - 81)

Titus (79 - 81)

Son of Vespasian According to Suetonius, he was the “delight and

darling of the human race” Was given the title “Caesar” by his father Conquered Jerusalem in 70 Shared 7 consulships with Vespasian Sent assistance to Pompeii and Herculaneum

after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 Dedicated the Colosseum in 80 Died from malaria contracted at his summer villa

Domitian (81 - 96)

Domitian (81 - 96)

Had himself proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard even before Titus was pronounced dead

Was a stern autocrat who ignored the Senate Attempted to restore public morality Preferred the title “Dominus et Deus” The Stadium of Domitian in the Campus

Martius later became the Piazza Navona Completed the subterranean passage ways in

the Colosseum and rededicated it

Domitian (81 - 96)

In 93 a reign of terror began with many senators and leading citizens being executed or exiled

In 96 a plot, led by the empress Domitia and her steward, Stephanus, assassinated Domitian.

The Senate decreed a “Damnatio Memoriae” and Domitian’s name was erased from public monuments and documents

The Five Good Emperors

Nerva (96 - 98)Trajan (98 - 117)Hadrian (117 - 138)Antoninus Pius (138 - 161)Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180)

Nerva (96 - 98)

Nerva (96 - 98)

Co-consul with Vespasian in 71 Hailed Emperor on the same day Nero

was killed Popular with the senate Rescinded many of Domitian’s taxes

Trajan (97 - 117)

Trajan (97 - 117)

Born in Spain, making him the first emperor of non-Italian origin

His father commanded the 10th legion (Caesar’s favorite) during the Jewish revolt

Adopted by Nerva Was popular with both the people and

the Senate Conquered Dacia (Rumania) and pushed

the borders of the empire as far as they would ever be

Hadrian (117 - 138)

Hadrian (117 - 138)

Hadrian’s father was a cousin of Trajan When he was young, Hadrian received a scar on

his cheek from a hunting accident; thereafter he always wore a beard

Was more interested in culture and the arts than war; as a result he avoided war and expansion

Adopted by Trajan on his deathbed Spent a great part of his reign visiting the

outposts of the empire Built a wall in Northern Britain (Hadrian’s Wall)

Hadrian (117 - 138)

Rebuilt the Pantheon which had been destroyed by a flood; however he left the original inscription

Built an elaborate villa (Hadrian’s Villa) in Tivoli where he placed many of the statues that he had brought back from his travels around the empire

Built his own mausoleum (Hadrian’s Mausoleum), which is now called Castel Sant’ Angelo, a museum and fortress for the Pope

When he died, he was unpopular with the Senate who refused to deify him

Antoninus Pius (138 - 161)

Antoninus Pius (138 - 161)

Adopted by Hadrian Earned the cognomen “Pius” by fighting

the Senate to have Hadrian deified Well liked by the people and Senate Was handsome, kind, and rich Ruled mostly by diplomacy rather than

military

Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180)

Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180)

Born to a wealth family in Spain Adopted by Antoninus Was co-emperor with Lucius Verus until

169 His reign was marked by constant war on

both the eastern front (Parthia) and the northern front (Germany)

Known as the Philosopher Emperor Stoic philosopher who wrote the

Meditations