“The Five Good Emperors”

By : Malea Moss and Raya Berkley Bell: 3B

Era of the Five Good Emperors

• The “Five Good Emperors” is the time period of the reigns from Nerva to Marcus Aurelis.

• The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.

• The period of the “Five Good Emperors” provided the greatest amount of power and prosperity for the Romans.

The Reign of Nerva (A.D. 96-98)

• Nerva was born into power on November 8, in Narnia

• He came in power in 96 AD• He became emperor at age 65 • He was declared emperor by the Roman

Senate after the assassination of Domitian• He was the only emperor that can say that

hs has done nothing as emperor that will prevent laying down the imperial office and returning to private life and safety

• He earned the title of father of the country (pater patria) at the starting of his reign

The Reign of Nerva Continued . . . .

• Nerva’s main goal during his reign was to help the poor

• He died after 16 months of reign• Nerva’s main goal during his reign was to help

the poor

The Greatness of Trajan• Trajan was born on September 18, AD 53 in

Spain. • He became emperor on January 28, AD 98• He was adopted by Nerva and accepted by

the senate , because he became popular with the people and the army of Rome

• He was known by most people as the greatest of the Roman sovereigns

• he restored elective power to citizens and to the senate, and he restored liberty of speech and of action to the magistrates

• Died on August 7 AD 117

The Statesmanship of Hadrian(A.D. 117-138)

• After the death of Trajan, his adopted son Hadrian then took the throne

• He was alike Trajan in many ways, he cared deeply about the welfare of the people and he also wished to add to the architectural splendor of Rome.

• He did not believe that Rome existed just to conquer the world, but to civilize her own subjects.

• He is said to have been a man of wider acquirements and greater general capacity than any previous ruler since Julius Caesar.

• He lived by the policy of Augustus, which was to improve the empire rather than to enlarge it.

The Virtues of Antoninus Pius•Antoninus reigned for twenty-three years, but his reign was known as an uneventful reign• Throughout his reign there were no conquest, no wars, and no cruelty•He maintained a peaceful empire that resulted in prosperity•He was kind to all and did his best to prevent persecution of Christians •During the period of the Antoninus reign was when the imperial government reached its highest development.

Marcus Aurelius (The Philosopher)(Ad 161-180)

•He was born April 26, Ad 121•Marcus Aurelius was the first philosopher to become Roman Emperor•He was a wise brave, just, and temperate leader•While he was in power he defeated the Parthian Empire•He wrote meditations, which was a series of personal writings about Stoic Philosophies•He was the last of the “Five Good Emperors”

Works Cited

• http://www.unrv.com/early-empire/five-good-emperors.php

• http://www.forumromanum.org/history/morey26.html

• http://www.romanempire.net/highpoint/highpoint.html

• http://www.the-romans.co.uk/goodemperors.htm• http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-empire/

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