Roman Emperors

Julius Caesar Died

44 BCE

Julius Caesar was assassinated by 40 senators on March 15, 44 BC, Rome. He was stabbed 23 times. He left Octavian to be his successor.

Augustus Becomes The First Emperor

27 BCE

Julius's successor, Gaius Octavius, and will be given the name Augustus when he becomes the first emperor of Rome. During his reign, Rome was successful and prosperous.

Augustus Dies

14

Augustus had to fight with Cleopatra VII and former Roman citizen Marc Antony. Rome won and Augustus becomes Egypt's first Emperor. He later died on August 19, 14 A.D.

Nero Is Born

37

Emperor Nero is born the nephew of the current emperor. His mother convinced the emperor to make Nero his successor. He would take the thrown 17 years later at age 17.

Nero Commits Suicide

68

During the early period of Nero reign he was described as reasonable and kind, but after his wife died he went insane. He executed many Christians and started The Great Fire which burned down most of the houses. He decided to flee east, but when he returned the senate had condemned him to death. Nero committed suicide before that happened.

Galba Rises To Power

69

A few months after Nero commits suicide, Servius Galba Caesar Augustus(Galba) becomes emperor. He is the son of Gaius Sulpicius Galba and Mummia Achaica. He stays emperor for about 7 months.

Galba Murdered

69

Galba was governor of Nearer Spain for eight years. When he believed Nero was planning his assassination, he joins a rebellion to fight against him. He was killed by his ally Otho.

Titus

79

Titus succeded his father, Emperor Vespasian, following his death on June 23, 79 A.D. His brother Domitian wanted the throne, so they had a bad relationship. By Roman standards, he eas extremely good looking, and Suetonius call him the "darling of the human race."

Titus Dies Unexpectedly

84

Titus was married twice and had one daughter, During his short rule, he is known for rebuilding Rome after The Great Fire in 80 A.D. He also completed the development of the Colosseum. He was supposedly killed by his brother Domitian, who became the next emperor.

The First Good Emperor of Rome

96

Nerva Caesar Augustus became emperor on September 18, 98. He was the first in a group of emperors known as the Five Good Emperors. He became emperor after Domitian's assassination.

Nerva's Death

98

Nerva was born into a distinguished senatorial family. He exposed some of the terrorist groups made by Domitian. Nerva took in Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his successor. He supposedly died of natural causes.

Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Is Born

161

Commodus used to be Lucius until he became ruler. He changed his name to Marcus Aurelius Commodus. His reign ended 84 years of peace and prosperity.

Commodus Stangled to death

192

About 3 years into his rule, he was slowly going insane. He renamed Rome Colonia Commodiana or Colony of Commodus. On December 31, 192, his advisors commanded the champion wrestler to strangle him. Rome fell into a period of civil war after his death.

Geta Becomes Emperor

209

Publius Septimius Geta is born on March 7, 189. He was emperor from 209 to 211. His father, elder brother, and himself were joint emperors. Upon his father's death, his bother and he branched out and made separate military factions. He was murdered in his mother's arms on December 211.

Alexander's Reign

222

Severus Alexander is a Roman emperor from 222 to 235. His grandmother and his mother persuaded Emporer Elagabalus to adopt Alexander as his heir. When Elagabalus was murdered, Alexander became emperor, but his grandmother had all the power. In early 235, the soldiers murdered Alexander and made Maximus Emperor.

Maximus

238

Maximus was co-emperor with Balbinus for a few months. He was chosen to leader an assassination on the barbarian Maximinus. Shortly after, Maximinus was killed by his own soldiers. The soldiers that admired Maximinus snuck into the palace and kill the two Emperors.

Gordian I

239

Gordian I was emperor for about three weeks. Gordian had a love for literature and the "Lives of the Sophists" was dedicated to him. Gordian killed himself when he found out his son had died in battle.

Hostilian

251

Hostilian was the son of the emperor, Decius. When his father died, he was adopted by Vibius Trebonianus Gallus. The two were joint emperors together and died of the plague shortly after.

Valerian

253

Valerian was trusted by emperor Gallus. Valerian was late to save Gallus from being kill in battle, but he managed to avenge and succeed him. He also revived Decius's slaughter of Christians and executed a great amount of them. When he was captured, he died in captivity.

Probus

276

Probus was the son of a Balkan military officer, and he served time. His is army declared him emperor when emperor Florian was killed by his own men. His reign was spent going to war against hostile tribes. He died from soldiers who hated his strict discipline.

Diocletian

284

Diocletian was emperor from 284 to 305. He restored peace within the empire after the chaos of the 3rd century. His rule also marked the last great persecution of Christians. He disappeared around May 305 and his death was almost unnoticed.

Galerius

305

Galerius's family came from humble roots but had a distinguished military career. He was a ruthless ruler and he made poll taxes for urban populations. In the winter of 310 to 311, he comes down with a painful disease and died shortly afterward.