Roman Emperor’s Accomplishments

Ancient World History

Augustus, 27BC-14AD First Emperor Somewhat restored power to the Senate and

people of the empire. Set up the Praetorian Guard whose task was to

guard the emperor. Understood the power of the empire was limited

when he failed to conquer Germany. Set up dynastic succession. Laid the groundwork for the Pax Romana, but did

not get to experience it.

Tiberius, 14-37 AD Survived two serious mutinies by troops in Illyricum and on

the Rhine. Tried to rule like Augustus more than any other emperor,

but was too hesitant and indecisive to be an emperor. Retired to an island after the poisoning of his son and left

matters to Sejanus, the head of the military. Sejanus eventually shared the sonsulship with Tiberius.

Sejanus tried to overthrow Tiberius once he found out that influential senators wanted his powers reduced.

Tiberius found out of Sejanus’ plans and had he and his supporters executed.

Becomes increasingly distrustful of others after the overthrow plot.

He was known to be stingy with finances and left friends in office even if they were corrupt.

Gaius Caligula, 37-41 AD Adoptive grandson of Tiberius. First to insist on being a

declared a “living” god. His extravagance, cruelty and profligacy can hardly be

explained except on the assumption that he was out of his mind.

To fill his exhausted treasury he put to death his wealthy subjects and confiscated their property; even the poor fell victims to his thirst for blood.

He bestowed the priesthood and a consulship upon his horse Incitatus, and demanded that sacrifice should be offered to himself.

He openly declared that he wished the whole Roman people had only one head, that he might cut off at a single stroke.

A personal insult to Cassius Chaerea, tribune of a praetorian cohort, led to Caligula's assassination on the 24th of January 41.

Claudius, Roman Emperor, 41-54 AD Named emperor by the Praetorian Guard after Caligula’s

murder. Claudius was especially fond of building. He completed the

great aqueduct (Aqua Claudia) begun by Caligula, drained the Locus Fucinus, and built the harbor of Ostia.

Oversaw the conquest of Britain in 43 AD. Annexed Britain and Thrace.

Claudius was a prolific writer, chiefly on history, but his works are lost.

He also introduced three new letters into the Latin alphabet, none of which survived.

Poisoned by his fourth wife, and niece, Agrippa. This was done after she had persuaded Claudius to secure a position of power for, her son from a previous marriage, Nero.

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Nero, 54-68 Is emperor at 16 and orders the poisoning of his adoptive brother,

Britannicus in 55AD. His mother Agrippa, wanted too much power and he had her

murdered in 59AD. Blamed Christians for the Fire in Rome (64 AD) and used the

incident to rebuild Rome to the way he wanted it. Thought of himself as quite the performer. Nero went on a Greek

performing tour. Nero’s focus on his performing led the Roman army and people to

reduce their support. He eventually commits suicide.

Vespasian, 69-79, Titus, 79-81

Vespasian Called the second founder of Rome Organizes empire after a short civil war. Puts down rebellions in Judea and Gaul. Built the Coliseum and ignored the

Senate.

Titus-Endured the eruption of Vesuvius and a

second great fire in Rome, 80AD.

Domitian, 81-96 Reorganized military supply organization

in Rome. Created storage areas for resources and

improved the water system. Reconstructed Rome after fire of 80AD. Managed all branches of government

himself. Leads to his assassination. Put many of the Senate’s leading

members to death to avoid losing power. Dealt with immorality harshly.

The “Good Emperors” of the Pax RomanaNerva, 96-98 Trajan, 98-117 and Hadrian, 117-138, Antonius Pius, 138-161, Marcus

Arelius,161-180

Build multiple public works. Aqueducts, bridges, roads, and harbor facilities.

Trajan extends borders of the eastern empire and created a program to assist poor parents in the raising and educating of their children.

Hadrian fortifies the boundaries of the empire through the building of Hadrian’s Wall in the British Isles, constructs the Pantheon, and codifies law.

Antonius Pius reforms Roman law so that it is applied evenly.

Marcus Arelius, and his brother, Lucius Verus, rule at the same time. Marcus later rules with his son, Commodus. Spends most of his rule defending the empire’s borders.

Commodus, 180-182

There is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that Commodus was popular among many of the people, at least for a majority of his reign. He seems to have been quite generous. The emperor obtained some of this funding by taxing members of the senatorial class. This policy of munificence certainly caused tensions between Commodus and the Senate.

Commodus believed that he was a living representation of Hercules, dressed in a lion skin, and carrying a club . His most important maneuver to solidify his claims as Hercules Romanus was to show himself as the god to the Roman people by taking part in spectacles in the amphitheater. Not only would Commodus fight and defeat the most skilled gladiators, he would also test his talents by encountering the most ferocious of the beasts

His extravagance empties the treasury and puts the empire in a poor financial situation.

During his final years he declared that his age should be called the "Golden Age”, declared himself the new Romulus and named the months of the calendar and fleets after himself.

After several attempts on his life during his short rule, Commodus has been said to die in a wrestling match or to have been strangled in his bath.

Septimus Severus, 193-211 A.D. Severus brought many changes to the Roman military.

Soldiers' pay was increased by half, they were allowed to be married while in service, and greater opportunities were provided for promotion into officer ranks and the civil service.

The emperor created a new, larger Praetorian Guard. By creating a larger and more expensive army and increasing the influence of lawyers in administration, Severus planted the seeds that would develop into the highly militaristic and bureaucratic government of the later empire.

During the second century, a career path for legal experts was established, and an emperor came to rely heavily upon his consilium, an advisory panel of experienced jurists, in rendering decisions. Severus brought these jurists to even greater prominence.

A diligent administrator and conscientious judge, the emperor appreciated legal reasoning and nurtured its development. His reign ushered in the golden age of Roman jurisprudence, and his court employed the talents of the three greatest Roman lawyers: Papinian, Paul and Ulpian.

Chronic gout limited his activities and sapped his strength. Severus died in York on 4 February 211 at the age of 65.

Diocletian, 284-305 AD The Emperor put an end to the disastrous phase of Roman history known as the

"Military Anarchy" or the "Imperial Crisis" (235-284). He was responsible for laying the groundwork for the second phase of the Roman

Empire, which is known variously as the "Dominate," the "Tetrarchy," the "Later Roman Empire," or the "Byzantine Empire."

His reforms ensured the continuity of the Roman Empire in the east for more than a thousand years.-put in place a plan for succession.-divided up the empire to make it more manageable. -revised the tax system so that it was based on payments in kind . The soldiers too came to be paid in kind. -Diocletian attempted to use the state religion as a unifying element. Allegiance was pledged to the empire. This began the so-called "Great Persecution”

On 1 May 305, wearied by his twenty years in office, and determined to implement his method for the imperial succession, Diocletian abdicated.

Constantine, 306 - 337 AD When Diocletian and Maximian announced their retirement in 305, the problem posed by the

Christians was unresolved and the persecution in progress. Upon coming to power Constantine unilaterally ended all persecution in his territories, even providing for restitution.

Battle of the Milvian Bridge He attributed his victory to the power of "the God of the Christians" and committed himself to the Christian faith from that day on.

Constantine then summoned what has become known as the First Ecumenical Council of the church. The opening session was held on 20 May 325 in the great hall of the palace at Nicaea, Constantine himself presiding and giving the opening speech. The council formulated a creed which, although it was revised at the Council of Constantinople in 381-82, has become known as the Nicene Creed

Constantine went far beyond this when he refounded the ancient Greek city of Byzantium as Constantinople and made it the capital of the empire. His decision to establish a new capital in the East ranks in its far-reaching consequences with his decision to adopt Christianity. The new capital enjoyed a most favorable location which afforded easy access to both the Balkan provinces and the eastern frontier, controlled traffic through the Bosporus, and met all conditions for favorable economic development.

Constantine left his mark on the city of Rome with an ambitious building program, both secular and religious Constantine without question began the construction of two major churches in Constantinople. The New Rome, both in its physical features and in its institutions, resembled the Old Rome. It was built on seven hills, it had a senate, and its people received subsidized grain. Constantine completed and enlarged the city's hippodrome and placed in it the Serpent Column of Delphi. The palace which he built for himself afforded direct access to the kathisma, the royal box overlooking the hippodrome. A rather controversial monument is the Column of Constantine, in the Forum of Constantine, built of porphyry and 25 m. high; its remains are now known as the Burnt Column.

References Graphics from:

http://www.livius.org/