Roman Emperors/Roman Emperors/The Crazy EmperorsThe Crazy Emperors

Mr. HawthorneWestern

Civilization

The Julio-Claudian Emperors(Successors of Augustus)

• Tiberius (adopted son of Augustus)– Ruled 14- 37 AD

• Caligula (grand-nephew of Tiberius)– Ruled 37- 41

• Claudius (uncle of Caligula)– Ruled 41- 54

• Nero (step-son of Claudius)– Ruled 54- 68

Tiberius (ruled 14-37 AD)• Distinguished general• Adopted by Augustus,

since he was “out of relatives”

• Forced to divorce his wife and marry Augustus’ daughter, Julia

• Long reign created stability during transition after Augustus

• Struggled with remnants of Republic—appointed people to hold the offices of consul, senator, etc.

Caligula (ruled 37-41 AD)• Designated emperor by

Tiberius• Lacked leadership

qualities and abilities• Grew up in a military

setting• Ruled with cruelty and

violence—called a “monster” and drained the treasury

• Murdered in 41 AD by own guards

Caligula• Well-liked & then

became ill-almost died• When came back-

determined to prove immortality– sat in temples– dressed as one of the gods– engaged in conversations

with gods

• Elected horse (Incitatus) to senate or consul

Caligula Cont’d• Humiliated senators

making them serve him & sisters like slaves

• Alex was his idol . . . built bridge of boats over Bay of Baiae & rode horse across wearing Alex’s breastplates

• Assassinated after 4 years of rule by guards in secret passage(pg. 191)

Claudius (ruled 41-54 AD)

• Succession backed military force– Insistence for

emperor• Changed Roman

government: enrolled men in Senate from a province outside of Italy and employed freed slaves

Claudius Cont’d

• Cowering behind curtain when chosen as emperor

• Birth defect/seizure gave him deformed physique, shaking head, strange expressions, & stammering speech

• Problem with drinking, gambling, & women– Fourth marriage was

to his niece

Nero (ruled 54-68 AD)

• Took over at 16• Musician and actor• Popular with the poor—

sponsored public festivals and handed out cash

• Unpopular—drained the treasury, excessive charges of treason

• Commanders in the provinces rebelled and brought down regime, Nero commits suicide

Nero Cont’d• Killed his mother & numerous senators who he

felt threatened by (195)• Confiscated people’s estates• In disguise, roamed streets at night, mugging,

stealing & sexually assaulting people• Divorced & exiled first wife-married mistress,

had head of ex brought to new wife• Kicked pregnant wife to death• Blamed for burning down Rome to build his

estate - Known for “Devil Went Down to Georgia”

More Nero!!!• First to persecute

Jews & Christians • Trapped people in

his own concerts for days at a time

• Abandoned by all, stabbed himself in throat before he was captured

The Pantheon

Once a temple to Roman gods,today the Pantheon is a Christian church

Hadrian’s Wall

Many stones have been removed for other building projects

The Colosseum

An amphitheater capable of seating 50,000(often used for gladiatorial contests)

Inside the Colosseum

Underground vaults and tunnels were usedto house animals and slaves

The Appian Way

This was the first major

Roman road - it connected

Rome with SE Italy

Roman aqueducts

This Roman-built structure is in modern-day France and was powered by gravity (descended only 17 meters over 31 miles)