Tiberius, who served as emperor from 14 to 37 AD, began his rule after the death of his father-in-law, Augustus. Tiberius was a weak ruler, and he understood that ruling Rome was like “holding a wolf by the ears.” When conflict arose in Europe, Tiberius sent his nephew, Germanicus, to deal with it. Germanicus did his job, and this resulted in Tiberius fearing the newest war-hero. To avoid the issue, Germanicus was appointed governor of the remote eastern provinces by his uncle. After the sudden death of Germanicus, people believed that Tiberius had poisoned him. He denied this, but the accusations never died. When he was in need of advice, Tiberius sought the assistance of Sejanus, a cavalry officer and town cheat. Tiberius sought the assistance of Sejanus, a cavalry officer. Sejanus abused the trust that was put in him, and he began to prosecute potential threats. Germanicus’s family was rumored to be plotting against Tiberius, and Sejanus had them all killed, only sparing his youngest son, Caligula. Tiberius did nothing, moving and cutting himself off from social contact. In Capri. Tiberius, who was safe from danger now, only allowed Sejanus to visit him regularly. When most believed that Sejanus would turn against him, Tiberius did the unexpected. He turned against Sejanus, choosing Caligula, Germanicus’s only surviving son, as heir to the throne. Taking care of Sejanus, Tiberius sent a letter to the Senate, condemning the cavalry officer. They captured him, strangled him, and dumped his body in the river Tiber. Tiberius died in 37 AD.
After the death of Tiberius, Caligula, who ruled from 37 to 41 AD, took the throne. Caligula lived up to his promises when he first began to rule. Not only did he allow those who had been exile...
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...of office. During his rule, Elagabalus’s grandmother conspired against him, promoting his cousin, Alexianus. Elegabalus adopted his cousin and continued to remarry, hoping to have a child to become his heir. At a last resort, Elagabalus attempted to have Alexianus, who was now Alexander, murdered. His attempts failed, and finally, Elagabalus and his ally, his mother, were murdered, their bodies dumped into the Tiber and their memories forgotten.
Works Cited
http://www.luc.edu/roman-emperors/elagabal.htm
http://www.luc.edu/roman-emperors/commod.htm#N_6_ http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/commodus.html http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04166a.htm http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/titus_domitian.html http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/nero.html http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/caligula.html http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/tiberius.html
Tiberius was adopted by Augustus and as his only remaining heir was voted the powers of Princeps in 14AD. Tiberius followed many of the policies of Augustus, including his advice not to expand the empire except where required for security such as in the East. Tiberius consolidated the eastern frontiers by 'astute diplomacy without warfare' (Tacitus Annals pg 216) illustrating a corporative relationship resulting in the preservation of calm without the cost or burdens of war. More frontier policies introduced by Tiberius were the annexation of client kingdoms of Commagene and Cappadocia and adding of Cilicia to Syria. In 17AD Tiberius sent Germanicus (his adopted son) to the East frontier where he named Ataxias III as King in Armenia. These provided a stable system of rule and consequently strengthened the boundary giving security to the territory.
The creation of the body which allowed the tribunes to check the consul. The ending of the chapter goes on to explain how Coriolanus, who had been driven into exile and had been made general of the Volsci, had led a hostile army nearly to Rome, and when the envoys who had been sent to him at first, and how his mother Veturia and his wife Volumnia persuaded him to withdraw. This chapter also showcases how Spurius Cassius, the ex-consul, charged with aspiring to be king, was condemned and put to death. Lastly, When Appius Claudius the consul had sustained a defeat at the hands of the
The Senate was a danger to Claudius and he refused to enter the house of the Senate during the first thirty days of his reign. By removing and abolishing treason trials, and Caligula’s tax reforms, he sought to gain their support. Although Claudius was a successful ruler, he was easily persuaded by many closest to him, most importantly, his fourth wife Agrippina (Rome: The Autobiography). Messalina was Claudius’ third wife and they had a son named Britannicus, who was to be the heir of the throne when Claudius died.
...icus and was therefore suspect. Tacitus was writing about Tiberius after the emperor had died and probably believed that since he was most likely killed by his nephew Caligula that Tiberius was probably justified in suspecting his relatives.
Tiberius Sempronius and Gaius Sempronius Gracchus were born into one of Rome’s most politically connected families of their generation. This in turn, benefitted both of their short controversial political careers. Tiberius Gracchus, the eldest of the two, was described by Florus as “a man who easily stood out from others in birth, appearance and eloquence...” (n.d., p. 221) and Velleius identified Tiberius as being the epitome of perfection (p. 55). These sources, created nearly 100 years after the death of Tiberius Gracchi, describe Tiberius to be the ‘perfect’ human-being which could demonstrate a bias accou...
Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.
Tiberius was a man of just reasoning and great honor. To have been a son of Tiberius Gracchus the elder, virtue was one of the traits that would pass along with his name. Tiberius married the daughter of the great Scipio who defeated Hannibal. This not only added to his fame, but also provided support. “We are told, moreover, that he once caught a pair of serpents on his bed, and that the soothsayers, after considering the prodigy, forbade him ...
Tiberius lost his life because he put too much trust in the people to back hime up, and Gaius met the same fate because the Roman constitutional system had check and balances specifically designed to keep power from staying in one place for too long. The Populist Gracchan government met a bloody end.
Goodness is a subjective term, one that tends to represent a person’s righteousness and generous actions. However, when speaking of a good emperor in the Roman Empire, one must also realize that goodness must also relate to how that emperor made the empire better. The five so-called good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. How were they good? Trajan was the best emperor because he was able to have not only a great relationship with the Roman Senate and people, but also because he was able to make the empire greater, whereas the other emperors were only moderately good because they accomplished only one of the above qualities.
Scarre, Christopher. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-by-reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome. London: Thames and Hudson, 1995. Print.
...e was outstanding as he was coherent to Augustus’ policy and kept the provinces content by governing them well. The financial status of the Empire was boosted 20 times that at his accession by building highways and saving money through hosting less games and repairing buildings. Tiberius followed in Augustus’ steps and made a respectful relationship with the Senate by showing courtesy to the consuls and the body as a whole. The rise of Sejanus prove devastating to Tiberius’ rule as his execution fueled Tacitus’ claim of a ‘reign of terror’ and angered the people of Rome. However, in his last years he did not let the administration of the Empire fall into appears. Through analysis of Tiberius’ rule, it is clearly seen that he treated the senate fairly, created strong economics and security in the state and boosted the empire into an unprecedented state of prosperity.
Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most malevolent, oppressive, and tyrannical leader throughout history, was the last ruler of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born outside Rome in Antium and his mother married his great uncle, Emperor Claudius, in order for her son to be the next Emperor of Rome. It wasn’t apparent that her son was to become one of the most feared and cruel leaders in Roman history from 54 CE to 68 CE. By examining his achievements and failures as an emperor, his influences and changes over the entire economic, political and social spectrum are revealed.
Killing the person responsible for one of your family member's deaths is Athenian justice. This type of lethal justice is executed by Orestes and Electra. Before proceeding to the house of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, they plot the murder of their father's murderers. They decide Orestes will murder his mother, and Electra will dispose of Aegisthus. Orestes is the most focused of the two; but Electra, although timid in the beginning, is the most masculine. Both of these personality traits are key to their plan coming to fruition. Once her brother devises the plan, Electra verbally encourages him to follow through with it. After thrusting his blade into Clytemnestra only once, Electra cries that "[i]f thou beest a man, [s]trike twice!" (Sophocles 5...
Domitian inherited the empire when his brother suddenly died after ruling for only two years. He became Roman Emperor in 81AD which fulfilled his lifelong dream. He was now able to follow in his father and brother’s footsteps as emperor. When he was emperor he traveled outside of Rome many times. He was said to be a hostile ruler.
Vespasian emerged as Emperor after the Year of the Four Emperors, and he brought the princeps and the Empire back to stability. His son and successor, Titus, took power in 79 c.e. and reigne...