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The Twelve Caesars of Rome

The Twelve Caesars of Rome. Kristina Southern. After the Roman Republic had come into disarray, the people looked to a new form of government. The Romans looked for more permanency from their leaders and that was exactly what they found. They established the new title of Imperator.

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The Twelve Caesars of Rome

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  1. The Twelve Caesars of Rome Kristina Southern

  2. After the Roman Republic had come into disarray, the people looked to a new form of government. The Romans looked for more permanency from their leaders and that was exactly what they found. They established the new title of Imperator.

  3. Julius Caesar49-44 BC • He was never actually an emperor. • He began as merely a part of a triumvirate, but came out as the leader. • In 46 BC Caesar is declared consul for ten years. • In 44 BC, the same year as his death, he is awarded dictator for life. • In his will he adopted Octavian and declared him as successor.

  4. Gaius Octavius31 BC - AD 14 • He was 19 when he received the dictatorship. • He did more for the empire than any other. • He wrote many laws reestablishing order. • He was the first official emperor, awarded the title of “consular imperium” in 19 BC. • He was left with no heir except his stepson.

  5. TiberiusAD 14-37 • His ascension to the throne has been questioned. • He established the infamous treason laws, which put fear into many Romans. • In 30 BC he retired to the island of Capri to finish out his rule. • The empire was mostly at peace under his reign. • His only heir was his grandson, Gaius.

  6. Gaius (Caligula)AD 37-41 • He was the most misunderstood of all emperors. • He was thought to be mad by ancient scholars. • In 41 BC he was assassinated by his own protectors, the Praetorian Guards. • The people themselves actually loved Caligula.

  7. ClaudiusAD 41-54 • He was made emperor by the Praetorian Guards. • He actually had no military experience but still stages campaigns. • Under his rule the first expansion since the time of Octavian takes place. • The first Imperial Bureaucracy staged under Claudius. • He was believed to be an excellent emperor.

  8. NeroAD 54-68 • He became emperor at 17 with no political experience. • During the midst of the Great Fire at Rome he continued to recite poetry. • In 68 AD, struck by fear of the military revolts, he committed suicide at age 31. • His living area was one-quarter the size of Rome.

  9. GalbaAD 69 • He was the first emperor not of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. • When he heard of Nero’s death he automatically assumed the title of Caesar. • He was hated by most, especially the army. • He was best known for his cruelty and greed. • He was killed by soldiers sent by Otho.

  10. OthoAD 69 • After killing Galba, he assumed the throne. • The armies in Germany were simultaneously swearing allegiance to Vitellius. • When he heard that the armies of Vitellius were arriving, he killed himself before Vitellius himself arrived. • He died on only his 95th day of rule.

  11. VitelliusAD 69 • At the time Vitellius assumed rule, Vespasian marched from the east to fight. • He was most widely known for his gluttonous habits. • He established rule through extravagance and greed. • When Vespasian arrived Vitellius was immediately put to death.

  12. VespasianAD 69-79 • He was the founder of the Flavian dynasty. • Much of his efforts were spent on reform - buildings, class orders, law, etc. • He behaved generously to all classes. • Vespasian was truly a just emperor. • After his death he was succeeded by his son, Titus.

  13. TitusAD 79-81 • He was the object of universal admiration. • By far he was the most generous. • His reign was marked by numerous catastrophes: volcano eruption, fire, plague. • His brother Domitian conspired to kill him. • After his death the Empire fell into mourning. • He was praised more after death than ever.

  14. DomitianAD 81-96 • He was the complete opposite of his brother. • His biggest contribution was the restoration of many city buildings. • He was hated and feared everywhere. • He was assassinated by people close to him. • Only the troops actually missed him.

  15. These first Twelve Caesars marked the beginning of a new era in Rome. This government of dictatorship would last for over another 200 years. It was with this government that the Empire thrived.

  16. Credits • Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars • De Imperatoribus Romanis, at www.salve.edu/~dimaiom.deimprom.html

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