Emperors of Rome

By emilyoconnell24
  • Period: 27 BCE to 68

    Julio-Claudian Dynasty

  • Period: 27 BCE to 14

    Augustus Caesar

    • Took over after his great uncle Julius Caesar was stabbed
    • November 27, 43 - Augustus Caesar, Marc Antony and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate
    • Between 35 and 33 BC He fought three campaigns in Illyricum and Dalmatia in order to protect Italy
  • 6 BCE

    Jesus Birth

    • Jesus Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem
    • the Messiah God sent to save all people from their sins and to spread the good news
  • Period: 14 to 37

    Tiberius

    • took power after Augustus Caesar (his stepdad) died
    • 17 AD Tiberius is victorious at the Olympic games
    • In 26 AD he left Rome to go to the island of Capri and left administration mainly to his Praetorian prefects
  • 19

    Publication of the Aeneid

    • Augustus Caesar ordered a poet/writer Virgil to write and publish a story that would unite Rome and the people
    • Virgil died in 19 BC due to illness, so the unfinished Aeneid was found and published in that same year
  • 30

    Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

    • Jesus was nailed to the cross and killed by the orders of Pontius Pilate and the non-believers
  • Period: 37 to 41

    Caligula

    • A lot of accusations stating that Caligula suffocated Tiberius or starved him, but Caligula took power once he died
    • In October 37, he fell sick (possibly poisoned) but then after he recovered he started to exile those close to him and those who seemed like threats
    • In 38 AD, he focused on political and public reform by restoring the practice of democratic elections, aided in fire damage, and abolished certain taxes
    • In 39, he led military campaigns to the Rhine and English channel
  • Period: 41 to 54

    Claudius

    • Caligula was stabbed along with his wife and daughter by officers of the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea and Claudius took over
    • Celebrated the 800th birthday of Rome by a festival of the Secular Games in 47
    • Extended the pomerium/territory of Rome in 49
    • Supported Roman control of Armenia, but in 52 he preferred the collapse of the pro-roman government to a war with Parthia
  • Period: 54 to 68

    Nero

    • When Claudius was supposedly poisoned by Agrippina (his wife), Nero stepped up as emperor
    • The Great Fire of Rome in 64 was supposedly caused by Nero so he could rebuild Rome the way he wanted to
    • In 65, he is said to have killed his wife, Poppea, out of anger
    • In 65, a conspiracy emerged to kill emperor Nero, so he had to kill many officers and sentators
    • In 65, he won every event he entered in the Olympic Games
    • end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty
  • 64

    Great Fire of Rome

    • This fire lasted for 6 days and then reignited for another 3 days
    • Completely destroyed 2/3rds of Rome
    • Thought that Nero set up the fire so that he could recreate Rome in the way that he pleased
  • Period: 68 to 69

    Year of the Four Emperors

  • Period: 68 to 69

    Galba

    • In 68, Galba heard the news of Nero’s death (threw himself into the Tiber ) and he marched into Rome to become the new emperor
    • In early 69, he adopted Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his son and heir
    • In January 69, two legions in Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to Galba (he was unpopular because he was pushed around by his "3 Pedagogues") and they demanded a new emperor
    • “strike, if it be good for the good of the Romans” were his last words
  • Period: 69 to 69

    Otho

    • Otho ordered the assassination of Galba and Galba's son in January 69, so he could rise as emperor
    • Was threatened by Vitellius (governor of Germany); battle did not go well in early 69
    • one of the shortest reigns (3 months)
    • March 14, 69 Otho started north with his troops to prevent Vitellius from entering Italy
  • Period: 69 to 69

    Vitellius

    • Otho stabbed himself in the heart and Vitellius rose to power
    • In July, he learned that armies wanted Vespasian (their commander) to be emperor
    • He banned Astrologers from Rome and Italy on October 1, 69 and exiled any that he saw
    • agreed in December of 69 to resign
  • Period: 69 to 79

    Vespasian

    • Vitellius had agreed to resign, but was taken by Vespasian’s troops and thrown into the Tiber in December 69
    • He is the first of the Flavian Dynasty and end of the year of the 4 emperors
    • He inaugurated the start of the Colosseum in the name of the Flavian Dynasty in 70
    • In mid 70, he was pressured to collect as many taxes as possible
    • In 75, he erected a colossal statue of Apollo
    • “Dear me, i think i am becoming a god” were his last words
  • Period: 69 to 96

    The Flavian Dynasty

  • 79

    Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

    • this Volcano destroyed the cities of Pompey, Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Stabiae in about 25 hours
    • one of the most catastrophic eruptions in history
  • Period: 79 to 81

    Titus

    • In June of 79, Vespasian died of illness and Titus (his son) came to power
    • The Arch of Titus was awarded to him for his victory in capturing Jerusalem in 70
    • Reigned during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79
    • Also reigned during a horrible fire in Rome that destroyed lots of important Roman buildings and statues, and an outbreak of a plague in 80
  • Period: 81 to 96

    Domitian

    • Rose to power after his older brother Titus died of a fever; however, there are certain theories that Domitian plotted against Titus
    • He finished the Triumphal Arc of Titus and built numerous monumental buildings like the Palace of Domitian on Palatine Hill
    • Revolt of Antonius Saturnius on January 1, 89
    • Years 93-96 were regarded as a period of terror
    • Started the Capitoline Games beginning in 86 and occurring every 4 years
    • end of the Flavian Dynasty
  • Period: 96 to 192

    The 5 Good Emperors

  • Period: 96 to 98

    Nerva

    • On September 18, 96 Domitian was stabbed by a freedman Maximus and Nerva rose to power - He was the first of a succession of rulers known as the Five Good Emperors - Romans welcomed Nerva and granted him the title of Pater Partiae or "Father of the Country" - In 97 a mutiny imprisoned Nerva, demanding he release the men responsible for Domitian's death. - Nerva adopted Trajan, appointing him to heir in October of 97
  • Period: 98 to 117

    Trajan

    • In 98 Nerva died of a stroke, so his adopted son, Trajan, obtained the position of emperor - He was born in Southern Spain, being the first emperor to have been born outside of Italy - During his rein, Trajan was involved in 3 major wars taking place in 101, 105, and 114 which were apart of the Parthian campaign - By 115 AD he had captured the Parthian capitol of Ctesiphon and had reached the Persian Gulf
  • Period: 117 to 138

    Hadrian

    • In 117 AD Trajan died a natural death (some people suspect poison), bringing to power his adopted son, Hadrian - Hadrian constantly advanced the city of Rome and built many buildings and monuments. He rebuilt the Pantheon in 126, which served as a "temple to all the gods." - In 130 he traveled to Jerusalem, which was still destroyed from war, and rebuilt the city. He renamed it Aelia Capitolina Jupiter Capitolinus
  • Period: 138 to 161

    Antonius Pius

    • Antonius rose to power in 138 after the death of adoptive father, Hadrian (his heart supposedly gave out) - He stayed loyal to Hadrian's political thoughts and carried out many of his same policies -In 148 to celebrate Rome's 900th anniversary, he held big games in the Colosseum which he payed for by cutting the silver content of the coinage
    • In Scotland, Hadrians wall was abandoned, so Antonius built a new one called the Antonine Wall in 142
  • Period: 161 to 180

    Marcus Aurelius

    • Marcus got power after the death of Antonius caused by a fever - In 175 Avidius Cassius tried to claim the title of emperor after he heard rumors of Marcus Aurelius being ill. Marcus went to the East to fight him and re-established authority - In 177, he made Commodus his co-ruler (who would later become emperor). On March 17, 180 Marcus Aurelius died, ending the dynasty of "the five good emperors" - He died of natural causes and, most likely receiving the plague.