Roman Empire Timeline

Augustus Becomes Emperor

27 BCE

He was Rome's first emperor. He caused the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. He also began the long period of peace called the Pax Romana.

The publication of the Aeneid

19 BCE

The Aeneid was published shortly after the death of Vergil. The Aeneid was not finished when Virgil died, and in fact, he left a wish that his story of the Aeneid was to be burned. Augustus ordered that Virgil’s Aeneid would be published with as few changes as possible.

The Birth Of Jesus

6 BCE

Jesus was born between 5-7 BC. He was born during the reign of Augustus.

Death of Augustus

14

Augustus became ill on the way to Capri to join Tiberius. After four days of resting on Capri, the crew crossed back to the Italy, during the journey Augustus died. He died on August 19, 14 AD in Nola, Italy.

Tiberius Becomes Emperor

14

Tiberius was a retired soldier who got called back to Rome by Augustus. Augustus really wanted Tiberius involved so he made him adopt his son. When Augustus died, Tiberius killed Augustus' son and became emperor. However, he did not want to be emperor so after a period of time he decided what would be best for him would be to get away to the island of Capri.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

30

Jesus was crucified approximately around 30 AD. This happened during the reign of Tiberius.

Death of Tiberius

37

Tiberius began traveling to Campania. But while he was on his way, he became very sick. He was taken to a villa in Miseno, Italy in order to recover. However, he died on March 16, 37 AD in Miseno. There is also a thought, with no proof whether it is truthful, that Tiberius was smothered to death.

Caligula Becomes Emperor

37

Caligula was residing in Capri, where Tiberius was living at the time. Tiberius was very old and sick, so he appointed Caligula as joint heir. When Tiberius died, Caligula returned to Rome and was recognized as the singular ruler. He was very popular with the Roman people so six months later, when he became very ill, the Roman people were very concerned. He got better, but was truly never the same. He became very irrational, sleep deprived, and mentally unstable.

Death of Caligula

41

Caligula planned on bringing back the expansionist campaigns created by his father Germanicus across the Rhine River. However, before he left Rome he found out that the army commander of Upper Germany, was planning to have him assassinated. But on January 24, 41 AD Cassius Chaerea, a praetorian officer, joined with two of his military colleagues and trapped Caligula in a corridor of his palace. They murdered him, as well as his wife and child.

Claudius Becomes Emperor

41

Claudius was poorly spoken and looked down upon by everyone in the court. Following Caligula's assassination, Claudius fled. However, two praetorian prefects found him and proposed him to the Roman troops who deemed him emperor. Claudius was the first Roman emperor, in a line of many to follow, who was not truly appointed by the senate, but instead by the men in the army. He made many good changes to Italy, including the reformation of the army.

Death of Claudius

54

Claudius' wife Messalina wanted to overthrow him and put his twelve year old son Nero on the throne instead. Messalina continued to scheme. On the night of the October 13, 54 AD, Claudius suddenly died. His death was brought about by Messalina (Agrippina) who could not wait for her son Nero to inherit the throne. So she took action and poisoned Claudius with mushrooms.

Nero Becomes Emperor

54

When it was Nero's turn to rule Rome, he was not yet seventeen years old, so Agrippina the Younger first acted as regent. She was the wife of Claudius, and mother of Nero. As soon as Nero was of age, he dismissed his mother because he did not want to share the power of emperor. At first, Nero appeared to be a very humane ruler. When he began having affairs, his mother began spreading rumors about him. He was angered by this and attempted to have her killed. He had completely changed.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

It started on July 18, 64 AD and lasted until July 23, 64 AD. Nero was the cause of the fire, he burned down Rome so that he could recreate it in his likeness.

Death of Nero

68

As Nero became to be more and more dangerous, the Roman people began to be fearful of everything he did. In 64 AD, Nero made his first public appearance in Naples. A few months later, Nero made another appearance, this time in Rome. The senate was very angered by this. Soon after the Great Fire of Rome occurred and burned Rome for six days. Nero wanted to burn Rome in order to create it into his own image. Later he decided to commit suicide, and got help from someone to do it.

The Year of the Four Emperors cont.

Period: 68 to 79

Vitellius and his supporters then declared Vitellius emperor. He had a powerful army and began their way to Rome to fight Otho's army. Vitellius won and Otho soon after committed suicide. Then three months later, a man claiming to be Nero showed up and challenged Vitellius for the throne. His name was Vespasian and he approached Rome with an army. They captured Vitellius and killed him.

The Year of the Four Emperors

Period: 68 to 79

The four emperors who ruled in 69 AD were: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, & Vespasian. Galba was the first emperor who was not descended from the Julio-Claudian line. Once Galba was in power, he angered many of his troops by not paying them. The governor Otho, one of Galba’s supporters, wanted to be named Galba’s heir. Galba selected a different heir. Otho’s supporters still declared him emperor. Soon after Galba was killed by the Praetorian Guard, after ruling for only seven months.

The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

79

Mt. Vesuvius erupted during the reign of Titus on August 24, 79 AD. It buried the whole city of Pompeii in volcanic lava and ash. Everyone in Pompeii was immediately killed upon contact of the lava and ash.

Titus Becomes Emperor

79

Titus' reign was short,he showed that he was talented in government, due to the guidance of his father Vespasian. In the summer of 69 AD, Vespasian set out for Rome to claim the throne, and left Titus in charge of the military operation against the Jews in Judaea. In 70 AD, Jerusalem fell to his troops and Titus was extremely brutal towards them. In 79 AD, his father died and he became emperor. Most people disliked him at first.

Death of Titus

81

During his reign Mt.Vesuvius erupted and a huge epidemic plagued Rome. He became very popular after these events happened. So when he suddenly died on September 13, 81 AD, every one was shocked.

Domitian Becomes Emperor

81

He was the younger son of Vespasian,and since his brother Titus was next in line for the throne,he was never thought to have the chance at being emperor. They thought he was not fit to be emperor. He began to fight a lot more battles;he wanted to be known as the conquerer. He raised the pay of the army which made him very popular with them. He wanted to increase his power over the senate,so he proclaimed himself perpetual censor which granted him near unlimited power over the assembly.

Death of Domitian

96

Towards the end of his reign, he was looked at more as a tyrant. He didn't even refrain from having senators who opposed his policies assassinated. He was also an organized, concerned senator. But many people no longer liked him, so when he was assassinated, the people of Rome were relieved.

Nerva Becomes Emperor

96

Nerva was a highly recognized government official. Nerva did not necessarily want to be emperor, but the Roman people were very glad when he was chosen. When he was chosen, he was already 60 years old. The was a noble emperor who exempted people from inheritance tax and distributed land to the poor. Nerva used much of his own money to help pay for land of others. He later made the mistake of replacing the praetorian prefects Secundus and Norbanus.

Death of Nerva

98

Casperius Aelianus was in charge of the guards. He turned all the guards against Nerva and had him imprisoned in his own palace. Casperius demanded for Petronius and Parthenius to be handed over for execution. Nerva refused, but they found them anyways and killed them horribly. Nerva was not harmed, but his authority was damaged. He had no children so he chose the heir Trajan. He died on January 28, 98 AD after developing a fever.

Trajan Becomes Emperor

98

Trajan was highly respected within the army and his adoption by Nerva was the best possible solution against the resentment much of the army had against Nerva. Before he came to Rome, he had the traitors that killed Nerva executed. Rome celebrated him when he came. His work was focused on the public works.

Death of Trajan

117

He went back to war many years later. Soon after he suffered from a stoke which paralyzed him. He died on August 9, 117 AD.

Hadrian Becomes Emperor

117

When Trajan was adopted by Nerva, Hadrian ran to congratulate him, which put him in very good favors with Trajan. Hadrian was the governor of a province in Syria, so he had a high status. Trajan made Hadrian his heir right before he died. He did not return to Rome at first, so he wasn't the most liked. But he proved to be a capable emperor. The discipline on the army was tightened and the border defences were strengthened.

Death of Hadrian

138

In 136 AD, Hadrian's health began to weaken. He adopted Commodus, who died 138 AD. Hadrian then adopted the senator Antoninus Pius, who would be his heir. Hadrian was so weak at this point he longed to commit suicide. His servants tried to keep all sharp objects away from him. Hadrian then retired, left Rome to Antoninus Pius, and soon after died in Baiae on July 10, 138 AD.

Antoninus Pius Becomes Emperor

138

Antoninus was a strong speaker, had good morals, was humble, and was dedicated to his duty as emperor. In comparison to the past emperors, Antoninus was not very ambitious. Antoninus wanted the deification of Hadrian, who was hated by the people. He won and got his way, to the dismay of the rest of the Romans. His reasons were still respected by the senate. He established new laws, and protected slaves from cruelty and abuse. He became very popular. His reign was peaceful.

Death of Antoninus Pius

161

He died suddenly of a short illness in his sleep on March 7, 161 AD. His heir/adopted son Marcus Aurelius took the throne that same day. Antoninus died a successful and well-liked emperor.

Marcus Aurelius Becomes Emperor

161

In 161 AD, war broke out with the Parthians, and Rome suffered setbacks in Syria. Verus, Marcus' brother and co-emperor, was the one who left for the east in order to lead the campaign. When he returned 5 years later, he and the army brought back a plague. Both Verus and Marcus then headed up north. Soon after, they decided to head home, Verus died on the way. More battles broke out, but Marcus Aurelius kept a calm head.

Death of Marcus Aurelius

180

In 175 AD, Marcus Aurelius became ill. A rumor went around that Marcus was dead, so his loyal friend Cassius was nominated emperor in the east. He did not know that Marcus was not dead, but later he was killed by his own soldiers anyways. In order for Rome not to begin a civil war, Marcus made his son Commodus his co-emperor. Both men headed out to war, where the Romans were victorious. But then Marcus got seriously ill, which he had had for years. He died on March 17, 180 AD.