Roman EmperorsRoman Emperors

Part IIPart II

The Year of 4 Emperors (68 The Year of 4 Emperors (68 A.D.)A.D.)

4 Emperors fight for Rome4 Emperors fight for Rome You don’t need to know them but just You don’t need to know them but just

FYI (Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and FYI (Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian)Vespasian)

Vespasian WinsVespasian Wins Builds ColiseumBuilds Coliseum

TitusTitus Inaugurates ColiseumInaugurates Coliseum Vesuvius EruptsVesuvius Erupts

5 Good Emperors5 Good Emperors

Why good?Why good? 1) Improved ability to govern1) Improved ability to govern 2) Succession without Civil War2) Succession without Civil War 3) All decent men (no Caligula’s or 3) All decent men (no Caligula’s or

Nero’s)Nero’s)

Nerva (96 A.D. – 98 A.D.)Nerva (96 A.D. – 98 A.D.)

What you need to know about NervaWhat you need to know about Nerva

Trajan (98 A.D. – 117 A.D.)Trajan (98 A.D. – 117 A.D.)

Expands Empire to Expands Empire to greatest extentgreatest extent

Wipes outWipes out

all Daciaall Dacia

(Romania)(Romania)

Trajan’s ColumnTrajan’s Column

Hadrian (117 A.D. – 138 Hadrian (117 A.D. – 138 A.D.)A.D.)

First Emperor to have a beard First Emperor to have a beard (facial hair becomes fashion)(facial hair becomes fashion)

Strengthens Rome’s holdingsStrengthens Rome’s holdings Hadrian’s Wall (across Scotland Hadrian’s Wall (across Scotland

and England – it’s still there)and England – it’s still there)

Antoninus Pius (138 A.D. – 161 Antoninus Pius (138 A.D. – 161 A.D.)A.D.)

A big fat lot of nothingA big fat lot of nothing

Marcus Aurelius (161 A.D. – Marcus Aurelius (161 A.D. – 180 A.D.)180 A.D.)

Philosopher-KingPhilosopher-King Plague sweeps empire Plague sweeps empire

(20-40% of empire (20-40% of empire dies)dies)

Population problemsPopulation problems Barbarian invasionsBarbarian invasions Has son named…Has son named…

CommodusCommodus

NOTNOT one of the good emperors (Marcus one of the good emperors (Marcus Aurelius is the last of the good Aurelius is the last of the good emperors)emperors)

Gladiator (story is false)Gladiator (story is false) Commodus did not murder his fatherCommodus did not murder his father Rome begins declineRome begins decline

Real Commodus

Not Real Commodus

Other notables and not so Other notables and not so much…much…

Pertinax (193 A.D.)Pertinax (193 A.D.) Praetorian Guard Praetorian Guard

names him Emperornames him Emperor Doesn’t pay them so Doesn’t pay them so

they kill him and they kill him and auction off the Empireauction off the Empire

Bought by…Bought by…

Didius IulianusDidius Iulianus

Emperor until the end of the Emperor until the end of the year when…year when…

Septimius Severus rulesSeptimius Severus rules 11stst Emperor from Africa (Rome Emperor from Africa (Rome

becoming less Roman)becoming less Roman) Severus Alexander (225 A.D. – Severus Alexander (225 A.D. –

235 A.D.)235 A.D.) Began giving citizenship away – Began giving citizenship away –

didn’t have to work to get itdidn’t have to work to get it Rome becomes less important, no Rome becomes less important, no

loyaltyloyalty Finally, the coolest name of Finally, the coolest name of

all…all…

PupienusPupienus He didn’t do anythingHe didn’t do anything